- Title: Payet "missed France" as he returns to Marseille from West Ham
- Date: 30th January 2017
- Summary: MARSEILLE, FRANCE (JANUARY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FRANCE FORWARD AND NEW RECRUIT AT OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE, DIMITRI PAYET, ARRIVING IN NEWS BRIEFING ROOM VARIOUS OF PAYET HOLDING NEW OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE JERSEY AS PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKE PHOTOS VARIOUS OF PAYET TAKING SEAT NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE FORWARD AND NEW RECRUIT AT OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE, DIMITRI PAYET, SAYING: "My decision was clear from the beginning: I wanted to come back here. I wanted to be a part of this project which is starting and I've heard a lot of confidence and sincerity from the part of the managers. For me, I think it came at a time where I missed Ligue 1 and France, meaning it all came together right away." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS PAYET SEEN ON CAMERA VIEWER (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE FORWARD AND NEW RECRUIT AT OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE, DIMITRI PAYET, SAYING: "I don't have to justify my behaviour. (West Ham United manager) Slaven Bilic has his opinion about what I have done. We talked a lot, him and I, face-to-face; I know what was said. From that moment, I have no comment to make on the matter." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE FORWARD AND NEW RECRUIT AT OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE, DIMITRI PAYET, SAYING: "I think if I were playing for money I would have been in another country a long time ago. So today, it's not - I'm not saying it won't be the case in years to come - but it's not my main motivation today. My main motivation today is to play football and to enjoy being on the field. If you look at my career, in all the clubs I've been in, I have played, and that's the most important thing for me. That hasn't prevented me from working my way up, step by step, and to progress steadily. It was a sacrifice, yes and no, because it's not one of my main motivations in football." PAYET AND OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE PRESIDENT, JACQUES-HENRI EYRAUD, DURING NEWS CONFERENCE EYRAUD ON CAMERA VIEWER (SOUNDBITE) (French) OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE PRESIDENT, JACQUES-HENRI EYRAUD, SAYING: "By coming here, Dimitri accepted a significant reduction in his salary. I think it's important, you are aware that French football is suffering from a lack of competitivity, and especially compared to English football where I believe the average salary is 3.3 times greater than the average salary of French football players. He has made this gesture; it also shows - first of all, on his part, his attachment to Olympique Marseille, but also the need for us to remain disciplined, and that means financially too." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF PAYET HOLDING JERSEY AS PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKE PHOTOS PAYET LEAVING VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE FOOTBALL CLUB
- Embargoed: 13th February 2017 16:22
- Keywords: Olympique de Marseille Dimitri Payet West Ham United Premier League France
- Location: MARSEILLE, FRANCE
- City: MARSEILLE, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001619VJ9B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France forward Dimitri Payet said he "missed France" as he returned to Olympique de Marseille from West Ham United after they agreed a transfer fee of 25 million pounds ($31.49 million) on Sunday (January 30).
Payet, who left Marseille in 2015 to join the Premier league club, stood out for his country at Euro 2016.
"My decision was clear from the beginning: I wanted to come back here. I wanted to be a part of this project which is starting and I've heard a lot of confidence and sincerity from the part of the managers. For me, I think it came at a time where I missed Ligue 1 and France, meaning it all came together right away," he told a news conference.
The Frenchman had become a fan favourite at the Hammers after he joined from Marseille in 2015 for a reported 10.7 million pounds.
The relationship broke down when he told the East Londoners he no longer wanted to play for them and sought a return to Marseille in the current transfer window.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan on Sunday accused the player of lacking respect.
Although West Ham originally said Payet must stay with the east London club, they agreed to a transfer after accepting a fee of almost 2-1/2 times what they paid for him, though they were still disappointed with the player's decision.
"I think if I were playing for money I would have been in another country a long time ago. So today, it's not - I'm not saying it won't be the case in years to come - but it's not my main motivation today," Payet said.
The 29-year-old has scored eight goals in 32 games for France, featuring in the Euro 2016 final which they lost to Portugal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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