Former France international Christophe Dugarry believes Dimitri Payet made the wrong decision to leave West Ham United for Marseille in 2017.
Payet had a stellar first season at West Ham, but his relationship with the club deteriorated in his second year and he forced his way out to return to Marseille in January 2017.
The attacking midfielder has been a key player at Marseille and is currently the club captain, but he has failed to hit his previous heights with the French giants in recent years.
Payet has not scored a league goal for Marseille since September last year and his performances and output have deteriorated over the course of the season.
Dugarry believes it was a poor decision to return to Marseille on Payet’s part and it did not make sporting or financial sense for the player to rejoin the club.
He feels it was more of an emotional decision and feels that a top athlete cannot afford to make choices which make no sporting sense.
The former France international told French radio station RMC: “It was a bad decision from Payet.
“It was not a sporting choice to come back to Marseille, it was also not a financial choice either as he would have earned a lot more elsewhere.
“He perhaps earned more at West Ham.
“It was a decision made for his family and I can respect that, no problem.
“But when you are a top athlete and the moment you don’t make a sporting decision, you will start to decline.
“It is quite logical, I am sorry.”
Payet, who has 38 international caps to his name, last played for France in October last year.
