Dimitri Payet’s drawn-out exit from West Ham has been a bitter affair.
The France international had the season of his life last term and then lit up the Euros with some scintillating moments.
However, this season it started to go wrong. Despite occasionally showing glimpses of his previous form, Payet has largely been a shadow compared to last season.
And then came the bombshell that he wanted leave, with suggestions the player had gone on strike to force the move.
Yesterday the 29-year-old completed a move to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille for £25m. Meanwhile his rapid transformation from West Ham favourite to villain has left a fair few fans with expensive Payet replica shirts, they’d rather not wear now.
When one fan raised the matter on Twitter with the club’s CEO, Karren Brady, West Ham appeared to have a generous offer for those left stuck with Payet shirts.
Morning, bring back your Payet shirt to any of the club shops & you will get a new replacement for £25, full details on WHU web site today. https://t.co/i9BPrS6YG1
— Baroness Karren Brady CBE (@karren_brady) January 30, 2017
However some fans were quick to point out the offer was not as generous as it first appeared as West Ham have recently dropped the price of their replica shirts from £55 to £36.66. Meaning fans would only be saving £11.66.
Fans also pointed out that the club’s solution still involved fans shelling out more money, having already splashed upwards of £55 on a shirt in the first place.
https://twitter.com/93rdmin/status/826033352302014472
https://twitter.com/quietmichael/status/826035834017181697
https://twitter.com/whu_tweets/status/826035659500552192
https://twitter.com/whu_tweets/status/826037908943560704
Or just wait another month when all replica shirts will be reduced to £15 in preparation for the new 2017/18 kits.
— Dean Faccini (@DeanFaccini) January 30, 2017
Other fans were more welcoming of the move.
decent move. Fair play to the club for this.
— Admiral Ackbar (@matthewcoster) January 30, 2017
Nice touch from @karren_brady & the club but it's their own fault for getting Payet on the back of the shirt. Should get it blank or Noble!
— Jack Lebeau 🏴 (@JackLebeau66) January 30, 2017
And one Saints fan raised a very salient point.
LOL. If Saints offered this for every leaver, we'd be in Admin!
— Matt (@lilyaimees) January 30, 2017