With each sumptuous goal and big-match moment of grace and courage, West Ham fans must have sank further behind the couch.
Signed for Marseille, last summer, for £10.7m, Payet’s first year in England was so good that he took home five awards at West Ham’s end-of-season bash. So confident was he of bagging that haul that he half-joked about showing up with a suitcase.
In the group stages of Euro 2016, Payet was France’s salvation. Twice he stepped up with vital goals for his country.
With each performance, as France advanced to the final, came more and more links about a move away from The Hammers. Real Madrid and PSG were both reported as interested parties.
Payet is still on his holidays, ahead of the 2016/17 season, but he has moved fast to assure West Ham fans that he is not going anywhere. He told The Sun:
“I’ve heard about all the interest and I’m flattered but I love West Ham. We had a fantastic season and I can’t wait to play in the Olympic Stadium.
“I’m 100% staying at West Ham, I love the club. I can tell the Hammers fans that.”
Let’s hope Payet is a man of his word. After all, we all remember what happened with Fabien Delph [ if you don’t, just ask disgruntled Aston Villa fans].
