Dimitri Payet accused of manipulating Marseille teammates into helping him sign long-term contract
Last Updated: January 28, 2021 1:45 pm
Payet tricking teammates?
An incredible story stemming from France, surrounding Marseille and Dimitri Payet, has surfaced online. The former French international has been accused of manipulating teammates into rejecting a wage cut, proposed due to the coronavirus pandemic’s financial implications on the club, in order to earn himself a long-term deal:
Dimtri Payet accused of manipulating the Marseille squad into refusing to take COVID-19 salary cuts in March 2020 so that he could negotiate a long-term extension through strong-arming the OM board. https://t.co/hvRleW82o9
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 27, 2021
The story sparked on the back of a feud between Payet and Marseille teammate and former Newcastle winger Florian Thauvin. French media report that the pair went for each other during a post-match meeting, following defeat to relegation battlers Nimes.
During the meeting, Thauvin accused Payet of manipulating his teammates to earn himself a long-term contract with the club, through to 2024. The ex-West Ham man was accused of speaking with several members of Andre Villas-Boas’ squad to convince them not to agree to any salary cut.
It is alleged that Payet then negotiated a long-term deal on reduced terms, which the club accepted due to a lack of desire on the part of his teammates to take cuts themselves.
So far, neither the club or players have publicly responded to the allegations.
Villas-Boas not happy with Sanson leak
Andre Villas-Boas has been forced to deal with the loss of one of his key midfielders, after Morgan Sanson joined Aston Villa on a permanent deal. The Portuguese coach was reportedly not too happy with the fact that information leaked regarding a possible deal, before the approach by Villa had even been made.
This, in turn, affected Sanson, and he was made unavailable for Marseille’s meeting with Monaco:
“I asked him if he had the mind to play. He told me it was difficult for him. He therefore left the group in the morning to go to Villa. I don’t know if he will be replaced. You have to ask Pablo (Longoria, Managing Director of Marseille),” Villas-Boas said.
Marseille sit in 6th position in the Ligue 1 table, with the opportunity to move within 4 points of 4th place, if they win their game in hand.
LIMA, PERU – JANUARY 05: Andre Villas Boas of Portugal and Overdrive Toyota speaks with members of the media during previews for the 2018 Dakar Rally on January 5, 2018 in Lima, Peru. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Villas-Boas has faced criticism for not keeping pace with the title-chasing pack this season, along with a poor Champions League group stage effort. The former Chelsea coach, though, has assured that he is willing to step down, should the club’s board decide that he is the problem.
“The moment that the board thinks that it is me (who is the problem), I will not stand in their way. I am totally at the board’s disposition. I made myself at their disposition last week. It is not a problem,” he said.
Marseille play Rennes on Saturday, the side one place above them in the French top-flight, in a potentially pivotal outing for Villas-Boas.
Andre Villas-Boas confirms Arsenal-linked Morgan Sanson has interest from England
Morgan Sanson set to complete move to Aston Villa from Marseille but who is the Frenchman?
This article was edited by Conor Laird.
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