No regrets for Payet after injury ends World Cup dream
Dimitri Payet has no regrets about risking his fitness in the Europa League final despite the decision costing him a spot in France's World Cup squad.
The Marseille skipper left the pitch in tears after just half an hour of Wednesday's crushing 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in Lyon.
Payet, who had been troubled by a muscle problem in the lead-up to the match, sustained a fresh hamstring injury that France boss Didier Deschamps confirmed as the reason for his exclusion from the 23 for Russia.
The 31-year-old former West Ham playmaker took to social media on Saturday to offer his support to the national team, while insisting he would not hesitate to make the same call again.
"When you are a professional player, the France team is above all, it's true," Payet wrote on Instagram.
"But [Marseille] is in my heart and if it is necessary to do it again tomorrow, after tomorrow, in six months, in one year, I would do it without question.
"I repeat, I love this club and I am ready to make sacrifices for it... I was fully aware of the risks I was taking and I fully assume the consequences.
"I am and I will be the first supporter of Les Bleus for this World Cup. I will heal and start preparing for next season. You can count on me."
Bonjour à tous, Tout d’abord je tenais à vous remercier pour vos messages et pour votre soutien cela me touche énormément. Quand on est joueur professionnel, l’équipe de France est au dessus de tout c’est vrai, Mais L’OM est dans mon cœur et si il faut le refaire demain, après demain, dans 6 mois, dans 1 an, je le referais sans me poser la moindre question. Je le répète, j’aime ce club et je suis près à faire des sacrifices pour lui si cela peut le faire grandir encore. J’étais parfaitement au courant des risques que je prenais et j’en assume entièrement les conséquences. Je suis et je serais le premier supporter des bleus pour cette coupe du monde. Je vais me soigner et commencer à préparer la saison prochaine. Vous pouvez compter sur moi. Allez les bleus et surtout allez L’OM. @olympiquedemarseille @equipedefrance @famillespoir #10 #oooooorrr #lelitecestnous #NMP-10 #teamboumbam #EtGardezQuoi #allezlom #👇🏽👆🏽