Dimitri Payet is leaving OM with one year left on his contract

“We decided to go our separate ways.“With these words, the president of Olympique de Marseille, Pablo Longoria, announced the departure of Dimitri Payet this Friday, July 21, at a press conference which was also attended by the Réunion player. Relegated to the rotation of the Marseille club last season under the orders of Igor Tudor, the French international still had one year left on his contract with OM.

At 36, Payet assures he wants to continue his career, before returning to Marseille to join the bottom third coaching staff in Ligue 1.

“It’s not an easy timeLongoria continued. It has been many weeks of discussions. It’s a tough decision to make, but we make it by telling ourselves it’s the best thing for OM.” “I don’t feel angry, the leaders have been more than correctconfirmed Payet, tearfully. You have to respect their decision, what they want to implement. I wish them the best and I will be the first Olympique de Marseille fan.“

The player with 326 games played for OM (78 goals, 95 assists) is now free to play wherever he wants.

“I’d like to continue playing, because I’m coming from a season with little playing time. I simply want to rediscover the pleasure on the pitch.”

Dimitri Payet

At a press conference on July 21, 2023

Returning to La Canebière in January 2017 after an excellent Euro 2016 with the French team, and after an initial spell at the club between 2013 and 2015, Dimitri Payet will have had a history as passionate as he was frenetic with OM. Sometimes brilliant, sometimes scolded by the fans for his form, he ended up losing the confidence of coach Igor Tudor, playing only a few games in the second half of the season. The arrival on the bench of the Spaniard Marcelino will not be an opportunity to recover.

“It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t what was planned from my sidehe revealed. The best solution is to accept this decision from the club, even if it is tough. The club asked me if I wanted to stop playing and join the staff. It was an important point for me and for the club, it’s a one, two or three year interlude, depending on what my physique will allow me. My career end will be marked by my return here. There will be a jubilee here at the Vélodrome with the people who mattered to me.”