West Ham: Dimitri Payet is a terrible professional player for West Ham

Dimitri Payet is like the bad smell that just won’t go away for West Ham, in his latest middle finger to the club, the Frenchman is refusing to play for the under 23 side.

Since announcing that he no longer intended to feature in West Ham’s plans, Dimitri Payet is displaying a level of behavior usually reserved for petulant children.

The French international is trying to force a move away from East London to Marseille. Manager Slaven Billic is making the want away winger to train with the West Ham youth team, which he has accepted as he wants to keep his fitness level up.

However he is refusing to play for the under 23 side amid fears that he may pick up an injury that would prevent a move from going through.

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The 29-year-old was training with the young Hammers as they prepared to face the Aston Villa under 23 team on Friday, a game that ended 0-0.

This behavior is indeed a huge slap in the face to West Ham fans, that much is a given. But what this also is, is an incredible act of unprofessionalism.

Dimitri Payet is not just a sports athlete, he is a paid employee of West Ham United football club, he is paid to do a job, refusal to do so should result in some form of financial punishment.

Why would Marseille even want him?

Marseille have reportedly offered a deal worth up to £25 million to bring their former player back to the Ligue 1 side, but the Hammers are holding out for a larger sum, believed to be around £30 million.

But despite the obvious talent of Payet, why on earth would

Marseille want to bring back a player

who regularly proves that he has the loyalty of a street cat?

Payet just wants to be ‘fed’ and he doesn’t seem to care where his meals come from, I am actually quite surprised there are no rumblings of a move to the mega money of the Chinese super league.

While currently on a salary of £125,000 a week, refusal to fulfill his duties as a senior player of the club is a worrying sign for any potential employer.

Imagine if an average Joe was to suddenly decide that he wanted to work for a rival company, but was still under contract with his current employer, so Joe just decided to sit in a corner and do no work until he got released.

It just wouldn’t happen outside the world of sports. Payet is displaying behavior that should not be tolerated at any level. He is not the first player to do this of course, and no doubt he will not be the last.

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But for the future of the game perhaps restrictions and punishments need to put in place to prevent players from forcing their way out of a team.

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