Jose Fonte has brushed off the “ignorant” claims of West Ham co-owner David Sullivan, who said last week that his children had “begged him not to sign” the centre-back.
Sullivan made the claims in an interview with the Guardian, where he also pointed to Robert Snodgrass, now on loan at Aston Villa, as a player his family had advised him against signing.
Fonte, sidelined until 2018 with a foot injury, had been enjoying an impressive run of form in central defence after initial teething pains following his £8million move from Southampton in January.
And the 33-year-old insisted Sullivan’s comments would have no impact on him when he returns to the West Ham side.
“It’s ignorance,” Fonte told reporters. “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.”
In Pictures | West Ham vs Chelsea | 09/12/2017
Sullivan’s comments will inevitably lead to speculation over Fonte’s future at the club, particularly with Snodgrass having departed on loan so soon after his January arrival.
However the Portugal international offered a relaxed assessment of what the West Ham joint-chairman’s extraordinary statement could mean for his prospects at the London Stadium.
“That decision is not for me,” Fonte said. “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.”
