Jose Fonte mobbed by ONE fan as he arrives in China following Dalian Yifang move
Former West Ham defender completed transfer to Chinese Super League club last week but failed to capture the imagination of supporters like other big name buys in the past
JOSE FONTE arrived in China to begin his new career with Dalian Yifang - and was mobbed by just ONE supporter.
Fonte completed a £4.4million move to the Chinese Super League from West Ham last week after a nightmare spell with the London club.
But the capture of the Euro 2016 winner has hardly set pulses racing out in the Far East judging by the lack of excitement at him touching down in Shanghai.
The ex-Hammers and Southampton star was only stopped for an autograph by one supporter as he passed through arrivals without anyone else taking any notice.
His lack of fanfare is in sharp contrast to the chaotic scenes that have greeted the arrival of other stars who have made the switch to the CSL.
When Oscar made his move from Chelsea to Shanghai SIPG last year he was mobbed by hundreds of fans and presented with bouquets of flowers.
Brazilian team-mate Hulk got similar treatment when he touched down in the Far East after making his own move to Shanghai.
And security was needed to hold back the thronging masses eager to get close to Carlos Tevez when he made the move to Shanghai Shenhua a year ago.
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Fonte, 34, proved a major disappointment at West Ham after the club paid £8m to take him from Southampton in January 2017.
In 13 months with the Hammers he made just 24 appearances, and looked a long way from the player who had been a target for Manchester United the summer before.
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He struggled so much he was embroiled in a war of words with co-owner David Sullivan, who said his kids had advised him not to sign the defender.
Fonte labelled Sullivan's words "ignorant" in a blast in December, while he was still out sidelined with a foot injury.
His days at the London Stadium were clearly numbered but as he was still unfit to play he failed to secure a move away from the club during the January transfer window.
That left a move to China as the only option available, and he agreed to make the switch to Dalian last month on a two-year deal.