Marko Arnautovic has hit back at Stoke, claiming new club West Ham are bigger and more ambitious.
Arnautovic was responding to Stoke chairman Peter Coates’ jibe that he had been disloyal to the Potters after they had resurrected his career.
The Austria forward accepts Stokies will hate him because of his record £25million move to West Ham, but insists he has joined a better club.
“To the fans I was, let's say the hero and now I am zero,” he said.
“But that’s football. The one thing I can say is, I’m happy to be here and happy to play for West Ham.
“Of course it was tough for me because the fans over the years were very supportive of me, but I came to a point where I wanted to see something different.
“I wanted to join West Ham because, for me, it’s a bigger club and more ambitious. We can see with the signings that we’ve made and the players that are already at the club.
“I think we have a perfect team and now we have to show it on the pitch.”
Arnautovic, 28, claims he does not feel under pressure because of his record transfer fee.
“I think I’ll feel the same when I’m playing, even if I came for more or less money,” he told Sky Sports News. “It’s of course an honour for me to be the record transfer, but it will do nothing to me.
“I have just come to this club to give my best and to show the fans that every penny was worth it for me. I want to give everything.”