Dimitri Payet, surprise for the second half of the season?

Decisive against Sassuolo and author of a little gem against Nîmes, Dimitri Payet confirms his return to grace during this winter preparation. Downgraded, not to say shelved, by Igor Tudor during the first part of the season, the attacking midfielder of Olympique de Marseille does not want to let go and intends to return to the front of the stage. Author of only six small tenures since the start of the season (five in Ligue 1, one in the Champions League), the former West Ham, Nantes or even Saint-Etienne has not said his last word.

Absent during OM’s last important matches, notably at the Parc des Princes against PSG, or in the Champions League in Frankfurt and against Tottenham, Payet had nevertheless distinguished himself just before the 2022 World Cup by offering Marseille supporters a sensational debut against AS Monaco. With two assists and a great architect of the success snatched (3-2) by the Olympians on Monegasque soil, the French international (38 caps, 8 goals) had thus expressed all his determination. Never mind the rumors of possible icy relations with his new coach.

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Dimitri Payet does not intend to give up!

Paying above all for the tactical ambitions of Tudor, the number 10 of OM has therefore been chomping at the bit, without resigning. With good reason since the face of the Marseille attack should change considerably after the World Cup, in particular with the departure of Luis Suarez for Almeria, that expected from Gerson, and especially the serious injury of Amine Harit, damaged in the ligaments of the left knee. Under the constraint of tight finances, the high spheres of Olympians are certainly looking beyond the French borders to strengthen themselves, particularly in Italy, but the idea of ​​internal reinforcement is not completely meaningless.

How then not to think of Dimitri Payet, very prominent, in particular, during the recent internship in Marbella. “Our orientation for the second half of the season is that he must be an important player in the attacking positions”specified in this regard to The Team an internal club source. “In his mentality, his attitude, you can feel a real determination. The minutes between attackers will be distributed differently, and Payet, with his more creative style, will be able to exist on certain types of match. It is this overall balance that counts”. The message is clear, Dimitri Payet may well have a completely different role during the second half of the season. First element of response on December 29 against Toulouse.