MX23RW : Friday, October 4 02:11:59| >> :120:35986:35986:

David Sullivan: 'Dimitri Payet was not wanted by West Ham United players'

West Ham United's players wanted Dimitri Payet out of the club prior to his move back to Marseille, the club's joint-chairman David Sullivan reveals.

West Ham United joint-chairman David Sullivan has revealed that the whole squad wanted Dimitri Payet out of the club.

The France international finalised a £25m switch to Marseille, the side that he left just over a year ago to join the Hammers in a £10m deal, on Sunday.

Sullivan admitted that the 29-year-old became reclusive in the last few weeks of his time at the London Stadium, but regained some "dignity" after writing off his January salary.

He told BBC Sport: "As much as we didn't want [Payet] out, you can't go against the consensus of the team. The team wanted him out, the manager - with great reluctance - wanted him out. We think it's bonded the team better together.

"He's not been talking to anyone in the squad. He's been sitting in the corner of the room for his meals and he's isolated himself. Before that he was bubbly, happy, shaking everyone's hand before the match. Either it was a tactic or something in his head had changed.

"The player's surrendered his January wages, so there's a bit of dignity we got with that. You've got to take a sensible view - the offer was just about what we could accept. I can't say I'm pleased with it. It's a damage limitation deal."

Payet excelled in his first season in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals and earning a nomination for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, but netted only three goals from September to December last year.

ID:290632: cacheID:290632:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2527:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dimitri Payet celebrates scoring for West Ham United against Newcastle on September 14, 2015
Read Next:
West Ham confirm Payet departure
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Buccaneers
@
Falcons
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool65011221015
2Manchester CityMan City6420146814
3Arsenal6420125714
4Chelsea6411157813
5Aston Villa6411129313
6Fulham632185311
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle632187111
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs6312125710
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton623110829
10Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest62316519
11Bournemouth622289-18
12Brentford6213810-27
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd621358-37
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham6123610-45
15Ipswich TownIpswich6042510-54
16Everton6114715-84
17Leicester CityLeicester6033812-43
18Crystal Palace603359-43
19Southampton6015312-91
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves6015616-101


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!