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Zaza to symbolise West Ham’s Europa League woes in Olympic exhibition

Hammers bow out to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu for second year running.

Simone Zaza will join West Ham to take part in an exhibition at the Olympic Stadium
OLYMPIC: Stadium (Image: Ben Sutherland)

Simone Zaza will symbolise West Ham’s Europa League campaign in a performance art exhibition at the Olympic Stadium.

The Juventus striker is set to undergo a medical with a view to joining the Hammers, who bowed out to Astra Giurgiu for the second year running, for £24m.

Many had assumed that Zaza was being signed as a replacement for the want-away Diafra Sakho and re-injured Andy Carroll.

But Football Burp understands Zaza’s primary function will be as an attraction in an artistic showcase of West Ham’s history.

Co-owner David Gold said: “If he can play a few matches for us too, that would be a bonus.

“But what we’re really looking for from Simone is for him to recreate his famous penalty against Germany at Euro 2016.

“As a symbol of our Europa League fortunes, it’s nothing if not powerful – in fact it’s downright uncanny.

“The long run-up of course represents our exertions in qualifying over a 38-game Premier League season.

“And then, the pièce de résistance – he fluffs it, spectacularly. It really has got everything.

“What with this and the 50-foot wicker sculpture of Mark Noble, this exhibition should really pack the ground.”