They will not go on vacation together… Asked to comment on a possible comparison between him and Dimitri Payet, Mathieu Valbuena let go this Saturday.
They played together in the ranks of OM for a season and were able to compete with the Blues. This perhaps explains the enmity between the two men; Mathieu Valbuena does not pull any punches at the mention of Dimitri Payet when the media opportunity presents itself.
In 2020 as part of the Téléfoot show – a sequence recalled today by the Phocéen – the one that Eric Gerets nicknamed “Petit Vélo” deplored his defeat against Dimitri Payet in a popularity poll among Marseille supporters: “ When you have played in a club like OM for more than 300 matches, which rarely happens, when you win titles… I think the people who voted had more in mind the fact that I played Lyon, otherwise I would have won hands down, I know that very well… »
“Mentally he can’t reach me”
This Saturday, asked about the same question during an interview broadcast on the Massilia Zone YouTube channel, Mathieu Valbuena persisted and signed: “ To me, this question shouldn’t even exist. The footix will answer Dimitri. Honestly, he has a lot of talent and it’s nice to play with him. He’s not the best friend I’ve had in a locker room but I really like those players. Dimitri’s problem is that he lacked consistency. (…) Footballistically and in terms of talent, I think Dimitri can be superior to me. But mentally he can’t reach me… »
Compilations made of figures, Mathieu Valbuena and Dimitri Payet played eight and eight and a half seasons respectively in Marseille. The first scored 38 goals and provided 58 assists in 330 matches; the second scored 78 times for 95 offerings distilled in 326 matches. Mathieu Valbuena, on the other hand, won five trophies with OM, crowned champion of France in 2010, three-time winner of the Coupe de la Ligue between 2010 and 2012 and finally winner of the Champions Trophy in 2010.
