'It happens for a reason' - Ex-La Liga star opens up on regrets after turning down West Ham switch

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The ex-La Liga star believes he could have enjoyed a more lucrative deal in the Premier League

Pione Sisto, reportedly a former West Ham target, has opened up on some of his career regrets, including the decision not to pursue a move to the London Stadium.

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The 29-year-old winger, who currently plays for Greek side Aris, was linked with a move to the Irons back in 2015. While playing for Midtjylland, Sisto scored a magnificent goal against Manchester United in the first leg of the Danish club’s Europa League last 32 tie, which prompted clubs from around the world to take notice of the star.

However, despite the apparent interest from the Stratford-based club, and reports suggesting that the Irons were in fact ‘close to pulling off a deal’, Sisto instead opted for La Liga’s Celta Vigo with whom he would go on to make over 100 league appearances. After four years in Spain, the winger moved to Turkish side Alanyaspor before heading to Aris in the summer.

Sisto during his second stint at Midtjylland in 2022Sisto during his second stint at Midtjylland in 2022
Sisto during his second stint at Midtjylland in 2022 | Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima

Speaking to the Danish news outlet TipsBladet, the former Denmark international looked back on his decision not to move to the Premier League and while harbouring certain regrets, the winger has said he has ‘made peace’ with the decision.

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“There are times when I can sit down and think: ‘Why did you do that?’,” Sisto said. “For example, when I was on my way to Celta Vigo, West Ham were interested. Maybe I could have earned more money at West Ham and played in the Premier League.

“It’s only later that you find out why you did what you did. Sometimes you don’t know until later. This is how I deal with life and in the end it all makes sense. It all happens for a reason.”

The Dane did make sure, however, not to blame his advisors for any of his career decisions saying: “These have been choices that I have made and believed were the right ones.

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“Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong, and then you learn from it for the next time. I can’t lose unless I make a mistake, ignore it and make the same mistake. In the end, it’s me.”

Sisto most recently featured in Aris’ recent 2-1 win over Olympiacos and will likely make Akis Mantzios’s squad to play PAOK on Sunday 29 September.

West Ham, on the other hand, have just four points from their opening five Premier League matches and will seek to secure a much needed win over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday as pressure continues to mount on Julen Lopetegui.

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