West Ham United winger Adama Traoré has been instructed to stay away from weight training under the guidance of manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The directive reflects a tailored approach to the player’s physical conditioning rather than a disciplinary matter, and is aimed at managing how Traoré prepares his body for competition.
Traoré is widely known across European football for his powerful physique and explosive pace on the flank. Over the years, his muscular build has attracted significant attention from fans and analysts, often prompting discussion about how he trains and maintains his strength. At West Ham, Espírito Santo has opted for a more specific conditioning plan that does not include traditional weightlifting for the winger.
Coaches at the top level increasingly individualize training methods based on a player’s position, physical profile and injury history. In some cases, this can include limiting heavy resistance training in favor of exercises that emphasize flexibility, mobility, core strength and speed. For a player like Traoré, whose game relies on acceleration, quick changes of direction and repeated sprints, the coaching staff may see greater benefit in focusing on those qualities rather than further developing upper-body muscle mass in the gym.
The decision to restrict weightlifting does not mean Traoré is reducing his overall workload. Instead, it suggests that his program is being adjusted toward other forms of conditioning, such as pitch-based drills, bodyweight exercises, dynamic stretching, and targeted recovery work. The aim would be to help maintain his trademark power while supporting durability over a long season.
Espírito Santo’s stance on Traoré’s gym work aligns with a broader trend in modern football, where technical staff, fitness coaches and medical teams collaborate to design highly specific training regimes. Rather than applying a single standard program to the entire squad, clubs often modify training down to the individual, seeking marginal gains that might help prevent injuries and keep key players available.
Traoré’s profile as one of the Premier League’s most physically imposing wingers makes any change to his conditioning notable. Supporters will be watching to see how this approach influences his performances, but the instruction to avoid lifting weights is best understood as part of a wider strategy to maximize his on-field effectiveness for West Ham United under Espírito Santo’s management.
