Former West Ham United star Dimitri Payet is refusing to take a pay cut in the wake of the global health crisis despite Marseille woeful financial problems.
Payet is one of the best players to have graced West Ham.
But his acrimonious departure sullied his name with Hammers fans.
The French wizard effectively downed tools to force a return to Marseille three years ago. And it came just months after he was made one of the highest paid players in West Ham’s history and received a £1million loyalty bonus payment (Telegraph).
West Ham have struggled to replace him since.
Ex Hammer Payet refusing to take pandemic pay cut
Payet lead Marseille to the Europa League final in 2018. And he has helped take the team into the Champions League via runners-up spot in Ligue 1 this term after the French season was cancelled.
But the former West Ham playmaker could no ruin his reputation with Marseille fans too.
It comes as Payet – dubbed ‘le snake’ but some West Ham fans – refuses to take a pay cut in the wake of the global health crisis which saw Ligue 1 ended early.
Players at West Ham and clubs across Europe agreed wage cuts and deferrals.
But Payet will insist on picking up his full salary despite the fact there will be no football in France until August at the earliest, a full five months since it was shutdown.
Former West Ham star hits out
That’s despite the fact Marseille have been in serious financial difficulty for some time. L’OM have even appointed former West Ham director Paul Aldridge specifically to facilitate the sale of players to Premier League clubs.
“Everyone has had their say on this matter,” Payet told Le Journal de l’île de la Réunion.
“My position was clear and obvious. The player that I am is also the father of a family. Like everyone, I have significant financial outlays to maintain, and engagements to keep.
“My role is to defend my interests and those of my family, without putting the club in danger, with everyone knowing how attached I am to it (Marseille).”
Opinion: Self-indulgent Payet up to his old tricks
Payet is up to his old tricks. The self-indulgent star is saying one thing and doing another.
The former Hammer of the Year claims to love Marseille. But is refusing to budge on his £100,000 per week salary despite no prospect of kicking a ball in anger for nearly half a year.
He will receive over £2million in wages in that time.
The revelation, and Payet’s attitude will not come as a surprise to West Ham fans, though.
Payet may have been a pleasure to watch for those 18 months but it seems the Hammers are well shot of him after all.
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