Joao Mario is already feeling right at home at West Ham United – literally!

The Portugal star used his day off on Wednesday to move into his new apartment in London, before taking time out to learn a few more lines of the Club’s anthem I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles.

The No18 has also settled quickly into the Hammers’ squad, as illustrated by his impressive showing in Tuesday’s Premier League draw with Crystal Palace; a performance he would like to replicate at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

“I used my day off on Wednesday to move into my new apartment, so I am happy that I have already found the place where I’ll live for the next few months!” said the 25-year-old, who revealed he had spoken to Cristiano Ronaldo before deciding to move to England.

“I am happy to be here and I must enjoy this opportunity and I want to play well and go to the World Cup. I am here to help West Ham and also to grow into the Premier League.

“I am trying to keep listening to know all the song Bubbles so hopefully I’ll be able to learn the whole song over the next few weeks!

“My teammates are really helping me a lot to settle in, especially Jose Fonte, because he’s my teammate from the national team and we can speak Portuguese. Many of them speak Spanish and Italian, too, which makes it easier to talk, so I want to thank them.”

I am here to help West Ham and also to grow into the Premier League Joao Mario

Joao Mario’s new teammates have clearly had a positive effect on the skilful attacking midfielder, who played an influential role on his Premier League debut, impressing the London Stadium faithful with his positive running, accurate, incisive passing and ability to create space for himself and others.

The Euro 2016 winners’ performance was all the more impressive when you consider he only trained with the Hammers for the first time last Friday morning.

“Everything has happened fast," he confirmed. "I’ve not even been here for one week, but I’ve already played twice for West Ham. I’m really happy to be here.

“I really enjoyed my first game at our amazing stadium. Since I was a kid I appreciated the Premier League and now, being here and playing was a dream come true.

“English football has a different mentality and different atmosphere and the passion you can feel on the pitch is amazing.”

Jose Fonte has helped Joao Mario settle in quickly at West Ham United

Having made his Premier League debut, Joao Mario and his new colleagues will travel to the Amex to take on Brighton in another fixture that will be vital to West Ham’s hopes of climbing further clear of the bottom three.

With just one defeat in their last ten top-flight matches, the Hammers can travel to the south coast with confidence that they can avenge the Seagulls’ 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture at London Stadium back in October.

“This kind of game, when teams are so close to one another, are the most important games for us,” Joao Mario observed. “We need to win this kind of game and I hope the team can play well and win on Saturday against Brighton.

“We are trying to improve and get better and achieve the results to get as high as possible in the table.

“We have a great squad. We hope that the injured players can come back soon and help the team and, together, we can do something important and improve our position.”