Zabaleta a happy Hammer already

Pablo Zabaleta is enjoying life with his new teammates at West Ham and says he’s raring to go ahead of the new Premier League season.

The summer arrival from Man City kicked-off pre-season training in Essex this week, ahead of the Hammers’ training camp in Austria and their season curtain-raiser at Manchester United on 12 August.

Zabaleta, who will wear the No5 shirt this season, is also looking forward to West Ham’s pre-season fixture against his former employers Manchester City.

(Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“We will play a few games, including an interesting game against Manchester City which is our final game before we start the Premier League, so it will be a good test for us,” said Zabaleta.

“I can’t wait for the start of the season now, it’s all about hard work and preparation and we are all focused on the fitness level and building up to be 100 per cent by the start of the season.

“My first day was fantastic, I’m so pleased to be here and I said to some of the lads that I’d never been in weather like that before in pre-season in Manchester!

“That was the first time I met Slaven [in person], as I had spoken to him a few times by phone.

“I said the same thing to him that I said to you, that I am happy to be part of this football club and this squad.”