West Ham head coach Nuno Espírito Santo has instructed winger Adama Traoré to avoid heavy weightlifting sessions at the club’s Rush Green training ground, citing the player’s naturally muscular build.
Traoré, 30, completed a permanent move to West Ham from Fulham in January, reuniting with Nuno, who previously managed him during their time together at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Speaking about the winger’s physical profile, Nuno described Traoré’s physique as “extraordinary,” stressing that the focus should be on preserving his explosive speed and power rather than increasing muscle mass. According to the coach, the Spaniard’s build is largely genetic, meaning there is little need for intense upper-body gym work.
Instead, Traoré has been advised to prioritise recovery sessions and injury-prevention training to maintain peak performance throughout the season. Nuno contrasted his approach with that of younger academy players, who often require structured muscle development as part of their progression. He emphasised that West Ham tailors training programmes to suit each player’s individual physical requirements.
Since arriving in East London, Traoré has mostly featured as a substitute, making appearances against teams including Chelsea, Burnley, Manchester United and Liverpool. Earlier in the campaign, he recorded 15 appearances for Fulham before sealing his transfer.
West Ham’s January recruitment drive also brought in several new faces, including Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos, Axel Disasi and Keiber Lamadrid. While some have already made an impact, others are still working their way back to full fitness.
For Nuno, the message is clear: Traoré’s natural power is already an asset — the priority now is keeping him sharp, fast and injury-free.
