Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he considered signing French star Dimitri Payet last summer but opted against it, prior to his £10.5million move to West Ham.
Payet is currently with the French national team at the European Championships and has been player of the tournament so far. An 89th-minute winner in their opening fixture against Romania and a 93rd-minute strike to seal a 2-0 win over Albania in their second game has secured France’s place in the knockout stages.
His performances over the past twelve months for both club and country certainly haven’t gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG all monitoring the former Marseille man.
Arsene Wenger was questioned about Payet and whether he held an interest in signing the 29-year-old. “Yes. Often. Very often, I have to say that I asked myself that question during my career,” he said.
“And I also have to say that I decided against it because he was not consistent.
“I have never doubted that he had enough talent to play in my team.”
Since signing for the Hammers, Payet has scored 12 times and assisted 15 in 38 appearances – not too shabby for somebody labelled ‘not consistent’ by Mr Wenger.
