Former West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet has spoken for the first time about his January move to Marsellie revealing that the reason he left was because he was ‘bored’ of playing for the club, Mirror reports.
Payet was a crucial figure for West Ham and for France in Euro 2016, finishing in the joint second position for the tournament’s top goal-scorers alongside Olivier Giroud.
“I no longer wanted to play in a team at the bottom of the Premier League.” Payet told L’Equipe. “Our way of approaching matches, I didn’t like the defensive system put in place.
“Playing 4-5-1, I could have all the liberty in the world – it was complicated to express myself. You can say I was bored, yes. I was going through the matches without any pleasure.
“Then I had contact with Marsellie, especially with Rudi Garcia who has a philosophy I know well. The choice was quick. If I had waited six months, I was losing six months.
“I didn’t hesitate. With West Ham at home against Hull, we won 1-0, and they hit the woodwork four times. In the changing room, everyone was pleased but the man of the match that had been the post. I thought I would not progress anymore.
“On the contrary, I took the risk of going backwards. I needed another challenge.”
Payet also admits he had thoughts of leaving the summer before, during the Euros.
“Slaven Bilic knew I wanted to go elsewhere.” he continues. “Already at the start of the season, when I left the Euros, we had talked about it. The club shut the door. I respected the choice.
“But the sporting situation deteriorated. In January, I said to him that I wanted to leave for Marsellie and not anywhere else, asking him to pass the message to the directors.
“The day he said the answer was a definite no, I replied to him that I would no longer play for West Ham.”
Payet is yet to find his feet at his new club, as he has played in only six matches since the transfer, bagging two goals in the process.
