The Hammers star may have gone about it the wrong way, but he put family first.
Put yourselves in this person’s shoes for a minute?
You have moved abroad for work but your wife and your young family are unsettled. They are unhappy in their new surroundings and want to go home. You have a very well paid job in France and many people rely on you, look up to you. You are paid well, better than anyone else at your company, but you and your family are simply not happy and want to return to the UK.
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet celebrates scoring their first goal
Would you do whatever it takes to return home?
If the answer is yes, then Dimitri Payet deserves some slack.
The way the Frenchman went about forcing his exit from West Ham was not ideal. There was a better way to get what he wanted.
Current boss says £9m Everton and West Ham target is not leaving
But the reasons for leaving are clearly not what has been debated.
He had his head turned at the Euros? Nonsense. He wanted more money? Baloney.
If that was the case Payet would be in China, at a Premier League rival or anywhere else but his former club Marseille.
West Ham’s Dimitri Payet
He has not left West Ham for money or glory – but because he was not happy in his job and his family life was impacted.
His exit is good for him and the club and whilst West Ham fans who earn fractions of what Payet did will rightly feel let down and confused by the situation, if they were in his shoes, 99 per cent would have done the same.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
It was a sorry saga but footballers these days are not loyal like in the past. West Ham are the latest victims of this but clubs do the same to players. Look at David Cotterril at Birmingham City, told with 24 hours to go to find a new club.
Footballers are, at the end of the day, human beings like the rest of us and the idea they should be held to a higher standard is a worn-out philosophy.
Don Hutchison has parting shot at Dimitri Payet on Twitter
West Ham will be better for Payet’s exit and have made money on his departure. Now a line can be drawn under this incident and they can continue to thrive in the league.
As for Payet, why the vitriol? He gave West Ham fans one incredible season and some fantastic moments. Wish him and his family luck back at home and enjoy the players that are content and happy playing for this great football club.
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