Jamie Redknapp has stated that the way West Ham United superstar Dimitri Payet strikes his free-kicks reminds him of David Beckham in his pomp at Manchester United.
The French forward has been a revelation since swapping Marseille for East London and has become an instant fans’ favourite due to his precision on the ball and creativity.
However, Payet’s ability to score from direct free-kicks has also been a major boost for Slaven Bilic’s men, with the 29-year-old’s showreel of goals from dead-ball situations growing by the month.
After netting a few spectacular efforts for the Hammers and France last season, the playmaker backed it up with a last-gasp match-winner against Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.
Redknapp has stated that the way Payet strikes the ball with his instep is similar to Beckham’s iconic method whilst he was playing at Old Trafford.
“When West Ham are awarded a free-kick, you can feel the anticipation around the ground as Dimitri Payet walks over to the ball,” he wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“I see kids on a Sunday morning trying to copy the ‘knuckleball’ method used by Cristiano Ronaldo — where hitting the ball on the valve causes it to move unpredictably.
“But Payet’s technique is a throwback to the way David Beckham would take them, generating curl and whip with the instep.
“It’s remarkable how consistent he is, too. He nearly always tests the keeper or threatens the goal, whereas when Ronaldo steps up you get the feeling it could end up in Row Z!”
