West Ham co-owner David Gold has revealed that the club sold Dimitri Payet back to Marseille for £10 million less than his true value.
The chubby pantomime villain was sold for £25 million just before the close of the January transfer window and Gold says the decision to get rid on the cheap was a reluctant one.
Gold revealed that the Payet fee was driven down as he wasn’t available on the open market, due to his refusal to leave for any club but Marseille. Gold told Sky Sports News:
“My only regret I suppose is that he was sold for £25m and I think he was worth more. I think in an open market he would have fetched £30-35m. I think the fans feel a bit cheated and that they didn’t get full value.
“He insisted on only going to Marseille. It was one club bidding, so that depressed the price. It was £25m instead of maybe £35m.
“I don’t think he handled it very well. Does anybody? I suppose the answer is we are disappointed but we have to move on. There is life after Dimitri Payet.”
Payet netted his first goal for Marseille since returning from London with a deflected free kick against minnows Guingamp.
But the French side have picked up just three points from a possible nine since the rotund attacking midfielder completed his homecoming move. No news yet on whether Marseille have convinced him to track back.
