A former Premier League star has revealed why he opted to go play in France for Olympique Marseille rather than join Manchester United.
After spending two seasons with Les Olympiens, Dimitri Payet sought a new challenge in his football career and found it in the form of West Ham United.
The €15 million (R238 million) the Hammers spent on the Frenchman in 2015 would prove to be money well spent as Payet went on to score 15 goals and provide 23 assists during the year and a half he spent at Upton Park and then London Stadium.
Despite continuously producing scintillating performances in the Premier League, though, he demanded a transfer away from London in January 2017, causing a dramatic fallout with then-club manager Slaven Bilic.
After his relationship with West Ham became irreparable, the winger returned to the club he had left the Irons for, Marseille, in a move worth €29.3 million (R464 million).
Since his return to the Stade Velodrome, the 35-year-old has 40 goals and 46 assists in 159 Ligue 1 games for the French side.
He has, however, now revealed that he had the option of joining perhaps bigger sides once it became apparent he was no longer going to be a West Ham player.
"I'm not someone who lives with regrets. I made a choice, which was just as much related to football as it was to family, to come back to Marseille," he told RMC Sport.
"There were other clubs, big clubs.
"There were Manchester United and others.
"It was a personal and family choice. I think it was the best for me and my family."
