It was a routine commute to the London Stadium for most West Ham United supporters but, unbeknown to them, a summer signing was in their midst.
“I was suspended for the game against Brighton (on December 21) and I travelled to Stratford via train,” midfielder Carlos Soler tells The Athletic. “I went with a lot of West Ham fans but they didn’t recognise me. I was with them like a fan and I enjoyed it.”
Soler joined in August on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain. His arrival was pushed by then-head coach Julen Lopetegui, who was replaced by Graham Potter this month. The 28-year-old lives near Tower Bridge and has settled in London with his girlfriend, Marta, and enjoys being inconspicuous in the capital.
“I prefer not to be recognised,” he says. “For me, it’s not a problem to take photos. I was like them (the fans) when I was young. I played in the academy of Valencia and I saw the first-team players and I wanted photos with them. I know that it’s my job too. I’m good with that but in that moment (on my journey to the ground against Brighton) I prefer no one recognises me so I can go with them like matchday fans to watch the match.
“I went to the Royal Albert Hall with my girlfriend last week to see Cirque du Soleil. I’ve never been to the Royal Albert Hall before and it was very beautiful. People don’t know me so much so it’s good. It’s nice that I can go by train like a normal person and enjoy London. Have a walk, have a coffee. I like it.”
Although Soler enjoys the many attractions of the capital, he has not yet immersed himself in an east London tradition.
“Pie and what?!” he says when asked if he has tried pie and mash. “I haven’t tried this dish but I went to Borough Market and I have to say, sorry about the paella here. I haven’t tried it but just watching it… a lot of people were eating it. They love this so if they come to Valencia, they’re going to love it.”
Soler sought the opinion of former West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals before joining. Soler also had interest from Real Sociedad following Mikel Merino’s €32.5million (£27m; $34m) move to Arsenal but the Spanish side did not follow up with a concrete offer. Lopetegui slowly eased the 14-cap Spain international into the starting XI at West Ham and he did not make his first league start until the home win over Manchester United in late October.
But Soler has played all four games under Potter and his versatility means he has adapted to the 3-4-2-1 and 4-2-3-1 formations. This season, he has registered one goal and one assist in 18 league appearances. He can play as a central midfielder, a No 10 and on the flanks. He opened his account for the season in the 3-2 victory against Fulham. Lucas Paqueta and others have benefited from Potter’s man-management and Soler is no different.
Carlos Soler’s goal against Fulham helped secure the first win of the Graham Potter era at West Ham (Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“He (Potter) likes to speak with players,” says Soler. “I’ve spoken to him two or three times (on that level). In football sometimes you don’t have confidence to talk but I like it when the manager tells me where I have to improve. In Spain we say, ‘When you talk you understand each other’. That relationship with a coach, or with his staff is good.
“I’ve played in all the games under the new gaffer. I saw that he had confidence in me. He likes the style of football that I play. That’s very important for a player. You need to have that confidence that the coach has in you because you know that you are valuable to playing in this style, in this team. It gives you a lot of confidence.”
In a recent press conference, Potter admitted the players and staff had an honest conversation about the season and what needed to improve.
“We need this but also when things aren’t going well too,” says Soler. “You have to be honest always because that’s the way to improve. When you’re not good on the pitch, you have to tell the truth because it’s not going to work. It’s always difficult to have a manager and the next day have another manager. You are all day with them, with the staff, with a lot of people that you think everything is going to be good, it’s going to be alright but that’s football. The new coach has good ideas. I like the football he wants. I see it as an opportunity to grow.”
It was with Valencia that the midfielder first made an impression, becoming a sought-after talent and having a €150m buyout clause placed in a contract he signed in 2019. His breakout season was in 2020-21, scoring 12 goals and registering nine assists in all competitions. His talents attracted the attention of PSG and in September 2022, he signed for €18m — but he was not a first-team regular across his two seasons at the French club. He needed a fresh start.
Leaving PSG, he felt he had a point to prove.
“I arrived on the last day of the transfer window,” says Soler. “It was not easy because you have to change a lot of things, not just in football but in life. I had to change my apartment, I lived for a month in a hotel. I brought so many things from Paris, a lot of things in life that people don’t know. It’s normal because fans just know about the matches but there are so many things more than football.”
But as Soler’s involvement continues to grow, so will his popularity. He is unsure what the future holds but, crucially, has rediscovered his happiness at West Ham.
“I don’t know about that (what comes next) because I’m just on loan,” he says. “I could tell you one thing now but maybe in two months, it will be different. I don’t know. I like London, I like playing for West Ham and I like the fans and people here. I’m very happy and that’s all I can say now.”
(Top photo: Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
