Payet applauded for his return to the Vélodrome

Present in Marseille for a few days, Dimitri Payet is at the Vélodrome to attend the clash between OM and Lille, two teams for which he played.

An early Christmas present for OM supporters. A few minutes before the start of the clash between OM and Lille, counting for the 15th day of Ligue 1, Dimitri Payet made a remarkable appearance at the Vélodrome this Saturday. Present in Marseille for a few days, the 37-year-old player received a standing ovation from Marseille supporters when he appeared on the pitch, blue Christmas hat on his head. A little nod to tradition when he scored in the last match at Vél before Christmas.

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326 matches with OM

“There is always a little ritual in December. I am keen to go see the children because it is an important month with the holidays and Christmas. I take advantage of the only match I have because Afterwards, it's a break. It's always a pleasure to come. It will be a magnificent match,” the Reunion Islander told Bein Sports. Between 2013 and 2023 – he had an adventure with West Ham lasting two seasons – Dimitri Payet played 326 matches in all competitions with the Marseillais (78 goals, 95 assists).

This match is necessarily special for the French international (38 caps, 8 goals) since he also wore the LOSC jersey between 2011 and 2013 (95 matches, 19 goals, 31 assists).

Now in Brazil where he has been playing with Vasco da Gama since 2023, Payet has just completed his second season in a club where he intends to stay, despite several rumors of departure in recent weeks.