West Ham defender Jose Fonte has brushed off criticism from chairman David Sullivan as ‘ignorance’, following shock comments from the latter last week.
Sullivan slammed the former Southampton defender and fellow January recruit Robert Snodgrass in a bizarre interview ahead of the Chelsea clash, where he claimed his children ‘begged’ him not to sign the duo.
Fonte struggled initially at the London Stadium but was one of the Hammers’ better performers before his injury, whilst Snodgrass has found stability on-loan with Aston Villa in the Championship.
Many were angered by Sullivan’s comments but Portuguese defender Fonte has put it down to ignorance, refusing the be dragged into the debate. Quoted by The Telegraph, the £8m January recruit said:
“It’s ignorance. I’m not going to say anything. It’s not going to change who I am. It’s not going to change what I do. I’m going to keep being the good professional that I am.”
“I am going to keep working hard to try and help my team-mates and the manager. What has been said has no effect on me or who I am.”
When asked if the comments could lead to an extent for Fonte, he added:
“That decision is not for me. I am 33 years of age. I have 500 or 600 appearances. I know what I have done in football. I know how hard I have to work to be in this position. It makes no difference to me. I will still continue to be the same guy I have always been.”
