Payet returns to France amid West Ham fury

MARSEILLE – Dimitri Payet made a record-breaking return to Olympique Marseille yesterday leaving a bitter taste at West Ham United after going on strike to force a transfer.

The acrimonious divorce ended late Sunday when the French international signed a five-season contract in a deal worth ß30-million (R436-million).

It is the biggest fee ever paid by Marseille.

The 29-year-old got a hero’s welcome on his return to his former club.

“We’re going home,” Payet tweeted alongside a photo of a small private plane with its door open at Marseille airport. But West Ham gave an angry farewell to Payet who refused to play in a bid to force through a transfer.

“The club would like to place on record its sincere disappointment that Dimitri Payet did not show the same commitment and respect to West Ham United that the club and fans showed him, particularly when it rewarded him with a lucrative new five-and-half-year deal only last year,” said joint chairman David Gold.

“I would like to make it clear that we have no financial need to sell our best players and that the decision to allow Payet to leave was in accordance with the wishes of the manager and the interests of squad unity.”

Payet starred for the Premier League side last season scoring 12 goals, but when the transfer window opened he refused to play as his priority was a return to France.

West Ham refused bids of £19-million and £20-million, but having signed Scotland international Robert Snodgrass from Hull accepted a final offer of £25-million.

Payet arrived in Marseille on Sunday. –