While he saw himself ending his career in his favorite club, Dimitri Payet has just been pushed out by the management of OM.
Dimitri Payet will not be part of the Olympique de Marseille squad in 2023/2024. This Friday, and during an urgently organized press conference, it was President Pablo Longoria who announced the sad news before giving the floor to the principal concerned. He couldn’t hold back his tears.
⚪🔵 The end of an era. A huge page turns at OM with the announcement of the departure of Dimitri Payet. The 36-year-old midfielder, overwhelmed with emotion, could not hold back his tears after a moving press conference. pic.twitter.com/VE1ALjH3IJ
– RMC Sport (@RMCsport) July 21, 2023
Payet will play more often, but not at OM
The Reunionese indeed appeared very moved when speaking about his end of history with the Phocaeans. “I would like to continue playing football. I come out of a very difficult season with little playing time., he confided, before a long break during which he began to cry bitterly. “ It’s going to be hard… I just want to play, to find pleasure on the pitch again. »
A painful breakup
Payet went on to assure that he was not furious with his management. The decision to leave is his, since he had the possibility of integrating the club in another role in the event of a career break. “As the president said, we have always had a frank and sincere relationship. We had a discussion well before the resumption of training and he expressed an honesty. It’s not easy to digest but I think it has the merit of being honest. This is not what was expected from my side. I took some time trying to find the best solution and the best solution is to accept the club’s decision. We sat around a table and discussed many points. The club offered me, if I stopped today, a retraining. But I still have the ball and pleasure to give…”
“There is no anger. I would have taken it badly if the club had not been correct with me. They were more than correct. It’s soccer, he added. As the years go by, we tend to play less, but we have to respect their decisions, respect what they are putting in place. I will be OM’s first supporter. »
326 – Dimitri Payet among Marseille TCC players in the 21st century:
👕 326 matches – 🥉
⚽️ 78 goals – 🥉
🎁 88 assists – 🥇10. pic.twitter.com/AoGsYZPOCx
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 21, 2023
Payet will return to Marseille
The former French international then indicated that he will return to his favorite club once he hangs up his crampons. “We also made progress on post-career and on joining the club at the end of my career. My end of career will be marked by my return here. To record this, we discussed a jubilee that will be held here at the Vélodrome with the people who mattered to me”. A scheduled comeback, validated by Longoria: “It’s not a goodbye, it’s a ‘see you soon’. The doors of the club are wide open. I want to wish you the best for this stage in your career. OM is your home, it’s your house. »
