Nuno bans Traore from gym at West Ham

Adama Traore has been instructed to stop lifting weights at West Ham’s training ground, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo insisting the winger already carries sufficient muscle mass.

Nuno described Traore’s physique as “incredible” but made it clear that additional weight training is unnecessary at this stage of his development.

“It’s incredible, it’s genetics,” Nuno said ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Fulham. “His genetics has been like this for some time now and he should avoid the gym.

“I’ve told him to stay out of the gym. It’s enough weight that he carries.

“He’ll do prevention work, but he’s not in there lifting weights.”

The comments follow a social media post from team-mate Crysencio Summerville, who shared footage of Traore bench-pressing 145kg at the club’s Rush Green facility last week.

Managing physical profile

Nuno contrasted Traore’s situation with that of Under-21 defender Airidas Golambeckis, who the manager says needs to build muscle mass.

“Golambeckis spends hours in the gym, we have to get weight on him. It’s the other way around,” Nuno explained.

Traore joined West Ham from Fulham in January in a deal worth up to £2m after making 20 appearances across all competitions earlier this season.

Since the move, he has made four substitute appearances in the league and started once in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Burton Albion.

Waiting for his moment

Nuno, who previously coached Traore at Wolves, believes the winger’s opportunity will come as West Ham fight to secure their Premier League status.

“Traore’s unique. There are not many players in world football with his ability, pace and skills in one-v-one situations,” he said.

“He’s a talent that we have to take advantage of, but it will take time. He has to adapt and understand the dynamic of the team. But he’s proven in England and with the Spain squad not long ago, so we’re talking about a high-level player.”