In truth, why Nayef Aguerd struggled in the Premier League with West Ham United is probably the result of multiple factors, rather than one stand-out issue.
Walid Regragui, his coach at international level with Morocco, felt that Aguerd was on a hiding to nothing at West Ham after suffering an injury so early in his career at the London Stadium outfit. The Qatar World Cup semi-finalist saw his debut delayed by months due to an ankle injury he suffered shortly after completing that £30 million transfer from Stade Rennes.
Olivier Dall’Oglio, who worked with Nayef Aguerd at Dijon where he really cut the proverbial mustard, felt he was a victim of West Ham United’s slide down the Premier League table.
He joined a club who had recently finished in seventh, but slipped to 14th one year later. Although even that feels like a rather dizzying height compared to where Nuno Espirito Santo’s team find themselves these days.
Speaking to L’Equipe this week, ahead of Marseille’s Champions League trip to Sporting Lisbon, Aguerd offered another potential explanation as to why things didn’t work out for him in claret and blue. The possession-orientated style of Roberto de Zerbi’s L’OM outfit, he suggests, is a far better fit for him than the counter-attacking pragmatism of David Moyes.
Marseille’s Nayef Aguerd hints at David Moyes issue at West Ham United
Only Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest averaged lower possession numbers than West Ham during Moyes’ final season at the helm in 2022/23. Just over 40 per cent.
Compare that to Aguerd’s current employers across the Channel, Marseille average 60 per cent possession in Ligue 1. Second behind only reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
As a centre-half who is perhaps best known for his piercing left-footed passes and ball-playing capabilities – a stark contrast to the likes of Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma, who fared much better under Moyes – De Zerbi’s tactics are helping to shine a light on his strengths while guarding his weaknesses.
“It’s different from what I’ve experienced elsewhere, except maybe [during last season’s loan spell at] Real Sociedad, where they were also a possession-based team,” Aguerd says. “It was great for me, to showcase my qualities.
“The coach is always coming up with new ideas. He’s passionate about football. It allows me to showcase my qualities because I like playing in a dominant team.”
Aguerd has made a flying start to life under Roberto de Zerbi in France
Already a fan favourite in his new home, Nayef Aguerd scored the winner against PSG last month as Marseille emerged victorious in a home Classique fixture the first time since 2011.
He has also been on the winning side six times out of six in a L’OM shirt. No wonder Aguerd describes his return to France as ‘incredible’, a Ligue 1 homecoming rescuing him from West Ham’s eternal nightmare.
“There were negotiations [with West Ham],” Marseille sporting director and former Morocco teammate Medhi Benatia said when reflecting on that £17.5 million deadline day deal.
“That’s why we did it very late, even though we’d been after him for a long time. He gives us great security at the back, he’s international level, he speaks all languages.
“He gives us a lot of calm, especially with the ball. He’s fast, has a good reading of the game. We’re really strong with all the players we have at the back. That’s also what we were looking for during this transfer window.”
Emerson Palmieri reflects on Graham Potter snub
Aguerd is likely to start against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday, potentially alongside a certain Emerson Palmieri.
London Stadium cult hero Emerson was forced to train alone by Graham Potter before following Aguerd across the Channel on September 1st.
“Two weeks [before I joined], I had already given De Zerbi the ‘OK’. The clubs needed to reach an agreement,” Emerson said recently. “I was a little nervous because I was afraid they wouldn’t reach an agreement.
“But the manager and Benatia wanted me so much that they waited until the very end. I had this fear, because I’m a man of my word, but it wasn’t just up to me.
“Before the transfer, I spent 50 days training alone. West Ham wouldn’t lower their demands, but I kept calm because I knew Marseille were there.
“My brother’s presence [helped]. He came from Brazil to London to be with me. And when Marseille came forward, he immediately advised me to accept because it would be a unique experience.”
