Austrian international striker Marko Arnautovic surprised many this week when he accepted a big-money offer from Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG, leaving behind West Ham United.
The 30-year-old’s desire to leave West Ham was known for several months, and he was expected to leave the London side for a new team. The surprising part of his move was his decision to move to the Chinese squad, which offered him a massive contract that he simply couldn’t refuse.
Arnautovic was an important player for West Ham since joining in 2017, scoring a total of 21 goals in 59 games. He has also been a regular for the Austria National Team over the past decade, where he impressed last month by scoring 2 goals in a 2020 Euro qualifying game against North Macedonia.
The English media were never the most supportive of Arnautovic during his time in the Premier League, as they reported multiple stories about his negative attitude and lack of commitment to his teams.
The Austrian striker struck back during his introductory press conference with Shanghai SIPG on Thursday, saying, “They do not train with me, they do not play with me, but they just write something.”
Arnautovic expressed excitement about his new opportunity in China, where he’s expected to debut against Jiangsu Sainty on Saturday.
