Slaven Bilic confirmed in his pre-match press conference that French superstar Dimitri Payet wants to leave West Ham United, and has refused to play for the club. Payet’s brilliant debut season in the league was followed by a lucrative contract extension earlier this year, but that has not stopped the Frenchman from demanding a move from the struggling side.
Manchester United and Arsenal were rumoured to be interested in the skillful playmaker, with United said to be in the lead. One report even claimed that Jose Mourinho had already spoken to Payet, and Bilic’s fears that he is being tapped up seem to reflect this.
Payet even hinted that he would not turn down a move to Arsenal, citing their style of play and technical ability as the perfect fit for his playing style. Reports have stated that any interested club will have to shell out £35m for the Frenchman, however, and is is highly unlikely Arsene Wenger will splash that kind of cash on a 29-year old.
Slaven Bilic also insisted that Payet would not leave West Ham, but similar situations in the past have resulted in a move with the club having no other options.
Twitter was unimpressed with his antics, with many citing this as a problem of the modern-day game :
A broken Bilic breaking the Payet news.
SOMEBODY HUG HIM PLEASE! pic.twitter.com/aWw0lNnpqW
— West Ham Central (@WestHam_Central) January 12, 2017
If Payet don’t wanna play THROW him out! NO PLAYER is bigger than the club they play for! Football winds me up at times! #DontPlayDontPay
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) January 12, 2017
If Payet wants to leave and West ham don’t want to sell and Payet refuses to play then don’t pay him!
— Cj (@cjbaggie) January 12, 2017
Has #Payet forgot that it was #WestHam who took a chance on him and made him a superstar? Feel sorry for them. We know what it feels like…
— AFCDavid (@_AFCDavid) January 12, 2017
February 2016: Payet signs a new five and half year contract at West Ham.
January 2017: Payet refuses to play for West Ham.
Sad really…— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) January 12, 2017
Payet wanting away after the backing and platform The Hammers gave him STINKS #NoLoyalty
— Trevor Sinclair (@trevor8sinclair) January 12, 2017
I’ve watched Payet and read everything about him since about 2012. I knew he would do something like this at some point.
— ️ (@tylermetcalfe) January 12, 2017
Payet is exactly what is wrong with the modern day mentality of alot of pro footballers shameful tbh
— ⚽️ LFC 92 ⚽️ (@LFC92) January 12, 2017
Payet should be ashamed of himself. West Ham gave him a chance – fair enough he took it but there is no loyalty nowadays.
— Triggerfish (@Triggyid) January 12, 2017
About time clubs got tough with players like Payet.
Under contract, which means will play for WHU till 2021.
Dont play, no pay. Simple.
— Paul Hughes (@paulhughes93) January 12, 2017
There was plenty of laughter directed at West Ham as well, with their famous chant which goes “We’ve got Payet, Dimitri Payet! I just don’t think you understand. He’s Super Slavs man, he’s better than Zidane. We’ve got Dimitri Payet!” being roundly mocked on Twitter :
Where is Payet?
Dimitri Payet
I just don’t think we understand?
He was better than Zidane
He packed his bags & ran
We had Dimitri Payet— Bergkamp & Bergkamp (@Orangeiceman10) January 12, 2017
They don’t have Payet
Dimitri Payet
I just don’t think you understand
He’s quite a gem
And too good for them
They don’t have Payet.— Granit Xhaka (@XhakaLegacy) January 12, 2017
We’ve lost Payet
Dimitri Payet
I just don’t think you understand
If you want a betting tip
We’ll be in the Championship
We have lost Payet— Jönny (@Firtinho) January 12, 2017
Bye bye Payet,
Dimitri Payet,
He’s not blowing bubbles anymore,
His toys are out the pram,
He doesn’t want West Ham,
Bye bye Dimitri Payet.— 1886Gunners (@Timbo_Slice1991) January 12, 2017
We’ve sold Payet. Dimitri Payet. He doesn’t want to play for West Ham.
He got a 6 year deal. He’s going back to Lille. We sold Dimitri Payet— Olé (@OlyLister) January 12, 2017
Payet is 100% bigger than West Ham
— Conor Smith (@Conor_Smith31) January 12, 2017
Payet’s Wikipedia ?? pic.twitter.com/uMA5Sd1BtV
— TheODDSbible (@TheOddsBible) January 12, 2017
seems a bit off that West Ham fans are criticizing Payet for not wanting to be at the London Stadium when most of them feel the same way
— joe burns (@windermerepools) January 12, 2017
Why would Payet leave @WestHamUtd they’re on there way to the Champions League according to the owners lol
— steve from surrey (@SlimzyOck) January 12, 2017
There were plenty of conspiracy theories flying around as well, after Slaven Bilic said that he felt Payet had been tapped up by another club :
Slaven Bilic: “Dimitri Payet has probably been tapped up. Until he changes his attitude, he won’t train or play with us. We won’t sell him.”
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) January 12, 2017
Payet refusing to leave, has allegedly been tapped up… meanwhile United are selling players for money… conspiracy?
— Drawty Devil (@DrawtyDevil) January 12, 2017
Bilic saying Payet has been tapped up. There’s only one scumbag club who make illegal moves like that and get away with it #RealMadrid
— Hi, My name is Joe (@SayNoMore33) January 12, 2017
Who has tapped up Dimitri Payet? I hope it is someone in the @premierleague
— James Carroll (@J_Carroll15) January 12, 2017
It’ll defo be #wenger that’s tapped #payet up, wait and see.
— #EVERYONEOUT (@51days) January 12, 2017
Jose has personally tapped up Payet, hasn’t he?!
— Nij (@darktheory) January 12, 2017
