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Journalist
Passionate about football since a young age, becoming a sports journalist quickly became obvious to Hugo. He would later discover a love for the NBA, before exploring other horizons such as Formula 1 and the NFL.
Arriving in 2013 from LOSC before leaving for West Ham two years later, Dimitri Payet returned to OM in January 2017, as part of a transfer worth around €30 million. A return that he owes largely to Jacques-Henri Eyraud, then president of the club, and to its owner, Frank McCourt.
Present at Stade Vélodrome last weekend to attend the match against LOSC (1-1), Dimitri Payet once again confirmed that he would return toABOUT at the end of his playing career. Which will then be a second return for the Reunionese, returning in January 2017 after spending a year and a half in West Ham. The club was then chaired by Jacques-Henri Eyraud and the latter did everything to ensure that Dimitri Payet can come back.
“We fought until January 28, 29, and it was hard”
« When I returned in January 2017. I have a gratitude that will be eternal, it is the president of OM, who at the time was Jacques-Henri Eyraud. He told me, “I want you to come back and I will do whatever it takes to get you back.” And we fought until January 28, 29, and it was hard. Because at one point, I told myself that it was going to be complicated to do », Confided Dimitri Payetin an interview given to RMC Sport.
“He allowed me to realize my dream of coming back”
Despite the difficulties, Jacques-Henri Eyraud did not give up and Frank McCourt also made an effort to bring the attacking midfielder back to theABOUT : « But he never gave up on this negotiation. He never let go of me because we talked often. And he allowed me to realize my dream of coming back and having my family come back home, and then living these incredible seasons behind… It's an eternal gratitude that I have to President Eyraud and to the shareholder (Frank McCourt), who had put his hand in his pocket. It remains a significant transfer at the time for OM. These are the two people that immediately come to mind. »
