As West Ham fans, we’re just about over the whole Dimitri Payet controversy which saw the Frenchman leave the club back in January, but we haven’t really heard the full story on how or why he chose to turn his back on the club.
In an interview with So Foot in France, as cited by Sport Witness, the 30-year-old attacking midfielder reveals his desire to leave the Hammers for Marseille last year and how he went about it.
Payet was a contender for Player of the Year in the Premier League during his debut season a West Ham, but it was during Euro 2016 in France where Payet started to dream of a return to Marseille just a year after leaving the Ligue 1 club for the Hammers in a £10.5m deal.
I left Marseille feeling unsatisfied. Playing in Marseille during the Euros brought all that back, and I saw the fans were still behind me despite me changing clubs. I told myself when I left that I would return to OM. Leaving was never in my plans, anyways.
Never wanting to leave Marseille in the first place, Payet confirms that he was sold because the club needed the money and the best way to do so was selling their best players.
No one ever forces me to do anything, but leaving the club was done out of love. I knew there was a need for money, and the most expensive players would be sold. I could have said didn’t want to leave, but when you love OM, you can’t even think about leaving it in the sh*t.
Arriving at West Ham, Payet was immediately made an integral part of the side by Slaven Bilic and the winger is full of praise for his under-fire former boss.
He managed me like a father. We spoke every day. He quickly understood how I worked. You saw that straight away in how quickly I adapted. He’s a cranky guy. He’s from Croatia… He can shout, but he’s good at man management.
West Ham struggled in the early portion of last season and Payet, who was still playing at a high level, was clearly unhappy at the club and made a move in the January transfer window to try and force a move, and he has his own tactics to do so.
I know how to be a d***head. It’s one of my specialties. It’s a little game. When I want to piss everyone off, I do it. My managers understood that: when I sulk, they talk to me. It’s a way for me to be heard. Those who know me play along, and, in the end, it goes well.
The club’s objectives changed from looking to compete for a top six place and European football next season to just battling against relegation and Payet believed he needed to move for the good of his career.
I left for many reasons, but the main one was about football: West Ham’s objectives weren’t the same as the last season, and I felt in danger for my football and my chances with the national team. I had a choice to make.
West Ham have tried to move on from Payet but there is still a glaring void in the side left by the Frenchman, and who knows how long it will take before the club will fill it.
