West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo has prohibited winger Adama Traore from weightlifting at the club’s training facility, citing the player’s naturally muscular build as sufficient for his needs.
The 30-year-old Spaniard, known for his imposing physique, joined West Ham from Fulham in January for a fee potentially reaching £2 million.
Since then, he has featured in four Premier League substitute roles and started once in an FA Cup victory against Burton Albion.
Nuno, who previously managed Traore at Wolverhampton Wanderers, praised his genetic advantages but stressed the importance of restraint: “It’s incredible [his physique], it’s genetics. [But] 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 one of the things that I think he needs to realise. It’s enough weight that he carries,” Nuno added.
He clarified that Traore would still engage in preventive exercises but not heavy lifting: “He’ll do prevention work [in the gym], but he’s not in there lifting weights.”
The directive follows a social media video posted by teammate Crysencio Summerville showing Traore bench-pressing 145kg, contradicting Traore’s earlier claims of avoiding weights.
Nuno contrasted Traore’s situation with that of under-21 defender Airidas Golambeckis, who requires gym time to build mass: “For example, [Under-21s defender] Airidas Golambeckis, he spends hours in the gym – we have to get weight on him. He’s the one that needs some muscle, it’s the other way around.”
Highlighting Traore’s potential amid West Ham’s fight against Premier League relegation, Nuno said: “Traore’s unique. There are not many players in world football with his ability, pace and skills in one v one situations.”
He added: “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.”
Nuno expressed optimism about Traore’s integration: “Traore’s chance will come.”
