Dimitri Payet: Why ex-West Ham United hero cried like a baby in Marseille

It was an emotionally charged day in Marseille as club hero Dimitri Payet confirmed his departure from the club.

Payet spent eight years in two spells at Olympique Marseille but still had a year left on his current contract.

On what was an emotional day for the 36-year-old, he announced that he will be leaving the club he loves dearly.

During his time at Marseille, Payet made 326 appearances across all competitions, scoring 78 goals and assisting 95 more.

However, he will leave the club this summer despite having 12 months to go in what he said was not his decision but the club’s.

"As the president said, we have always had a sincere relationship,” Payet said per the club website in tears.

“We had a discussion well before training resumed and he was honest. It's not easy to digest but I think it has the merit of being honest. That is not what was planned on my side.

“It took me a little while to try to find the best solution and the best solution is to accept the club's decision. We sat around a table and discussed a lot of points.”

Speaking further, the former West Ham United star noted that he is not about to call it quits with the game as he still has more to offer while he confirmed he will be back at the club.

“The club offered me, if I stopped today, a conversion. But I still have ball and fun to give,” he added. “We also made progress on the post-career and on joining the club at the end of my career. 

''My end of career will be marked by my return here. To record this, we discussed a jubilee that will be held here at the Velodrome with the people who mattered to me.”