But the Ecuadorian has been delighted by his welcome at Upton Park.
New West Ham United signing is settling into life at Upton Park after his summer move from Mexico, report the Daily Star, after learning about the club and its fans by watching hooligan movie Green Street, starring Elijah Wood.
SEE MORE:
Liverpool FIFA 15 – Starting XI according to ratings
Arsenal FIFA 15 – Gunners best XI.
Louis van Gaal youngsters – United boss ready to put his faith in youth.
The Ecuadorian striker, who starred at the World Cup despite his nation’s failure to make it out of the group, joined in a £12 million summer deal from Pachuca and scored his first goal with a sizzling 30-yard effort against Hull City recently, whilst he also caused troubles for Liverpool last weekend as the Hammers shocked Brendan Rodgers and his side at Upton Park.
Valencia admits to having learned about his new club from watching hooligan films, but that didn’t scare him off a move to East London:
“I knew about West Ham mainly from watching films. I remember watching ‘Green Street’. No, I was not scared. When I found out I was coming here I didn’t know what to expect. But as soon as I arrived I was told that that was all back in the day, in the old days, and it has all changed now.”
Indeed, Valencia was surprised at the warmth of the Upton Park crowd after the opening day defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, having played in the white hot atmospheres of South American domestic football:
“The supporters are very passionate but also respectful in the sense that in South America if you lose a match you can’t even go out in the street. Here after we lost the opening game people stayed in the stadium and showed their support. That’s something I really liked.”
Valencia will be looking to really make his mark on the Premier League this weekend as this side travel to Old Trafford to take on a Manchester United side thrown into new turmoil last weekend when they were beaten 5-3 in a crazy game at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium.
With fellow new attacking signings Diafra Sakho and Mauro Zarate having impressed in spurts at the start of the new season, manager Sam Allardyce will certainly feel that he has the tools to trouble Louis van Gaal’s underperforming side.