West Ham United midfielder Nikola Vlasic says he has been ‘reborn’ at loan club Torino since arriving in the summer.
The Croatian midfielder moved to the Italian club on loan in the summer transfer window, having fallen out of favour at the London Stadium.
He joined West Ham in a £27m deal from CSKA Moscow in August last year but struggled to establish himself under David Moyes last season, making just six starts in the Premier League.
They were happy to let him go in the summer, particularly now that they have Lucas Paqueta for the same position, and he joined Torino on a season-long loan deal which includes a £15m option to make it permanent.
It’s looking increasingly likely that Torino will activate that at some point after Vlasic started the season in fine form, with three goals in seven games so far and a starring role in their midfield.
They’re delighted with the West Ham man, and it seems he is equally as pleased with his decision to leave the London Stadium.
“At Torino I have found my freedom again, I have been reborn,” La Stampa report him saying at Croatia’s training camp.
“Compared to England there is a big difference on a mental level. In Italy I feel like someone else, much better with my head: I am a free man again.
“And then at Toro everything is working, I train great, I know that there is a lot of work to do, but also that it is useful, and I will find it in the future.
“What counts most is to play and at Toro I am doing it consistently – his satisfaction -, in granata I found so much trust from the environment, now I am happy, and I can’t really complain about anything.
“I ended up in a team with a lot of different people, but of quality: it’s up to Juric to make his choices, at most he may have some problems having more than one top player in the squad.”
