Former West Ham United star Dimitri Payet has tested positive for coronavirus.
West Ham still want Championship star and know what they must do to get him – insider
That’s according to reports emerging from France this evening.
Payet tests positive for coronavirus claim reports from France
RMC Sport and Get French Football News are both reporting that the ex West Ham wizard has become the fifth Marseille player to test positive for Covid-19.
It comes after Ligue 1’s opening game of the season – Marseille vs St Etienne – was postponed following four positive tests in the Marseille camp (Sky Sports).
“Dimitri Payet becomes the 5th Marseille player to test positive for COVID-19,” GFFN posted on Twitter.
Payet is one of the best players to have graced West Ham.
Time has been a great healer for some West Ham fans over Payet
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.
As time has elapsed many West Ham fans have come to appreciate Payet for what he brought to the club during a magical 18 month spell.
Hammers fans would certainly not wish ill of the playmaker and all at West Ham will undoubtedly hope Payet comes through unscathed.
The reports do not state whether Payet was suffering any symptoms.
Payet was outspoken over pandemic pay cut
Back in June the former Hammers talisman was outspoken after being asked to help financially struggling Marseille by taking a pay cut amidst the pandemic.
At the time the midfielder refused, explaining he had his own ‘significant financial outlays to maintain’.
“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).”
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