West Ham boss David Moyes makes big Dimitri Payet and Lucas Paqueta claim

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David Moyes has lifted the lid on just how highly regarded Marseille star Dimitri Payet still is at West Ham United.

Payet was absolutely outstanding during his 18 month spell with the Hammers, after moving to Upton Park from Marseille in the summer of 2015.

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The now 35-year-old was an instant hit at West Ham. During 59 games for the Hammers, Payet racked up 15 goals and 22 assists (Transfermarkt).

He lit up Upton Park and the London Stadium with numerous displays of magical genius.

Payet left West Ham to return to Marseille in January 2017 for around £25 million (BBC), however, after apparently falling out with Hammers boss at the time Slaven Bilic.

It was an acrimonious exit with many West Ham fans feeling incredibly bitter towards the Frenchman. Much time has passed now though, and perhaps the fans are now starting to understand why he left.

Payet has since claimed that the move back to Marseille was made purely because he wanted to go back home with his family.

And it’s clear to see that the Frenchman’s legendary status in East London has not been tarnished one little bit…

David Moyes opens up on West Ham fans’ love for Dimitri Payet

The Scot didn’t manage the Frenchman at the London Stadium, but it hasn’t been lost on him just how important he was to the football club.

And Moyes highlighted just how highly Payet is thought of at West Ham, when speaking to reporters about Lucas Paqueta yesterday, as quoted by Football.London:

We are seeing someone who is talented and a different sort of player we have had at the club for a long time. I don’t want to put any pressure on him, but maybe Dimitri Payet was the last one. Every West Ham supporter I speak to always talks of Payet, what he brought to the club. Paqueta has an individual talent like that, which is different to what we have got. We have tried to add value to the team by what sort of players and add something. I am hoping Lucas can do that, but I also want him to score goals, make goals, and help my play be better. I saw his bit of skill, and it was excellent.

If Paqueta goes on to have a similar kind of impact to the one that Dimitri Payet made at West Ham, then the Brazilian will end up being a club legend at the London Stadium.

The early signs are good – Paqueta looks like an unbelievably talented player.

Whether he can replicate what Dimitri Payet did at West Ham remains to be seen though.

Let’s hope that the Brazilian ends up being one of our greatest players of all time.

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