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Slaven Bilic gave Dimitri Payet final chance to change mind

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic makes a point to player Dimitri Payet in action during the Premier League match between Swansea and West Ham
Image: Slaven Bilic gave Dimitri Payet one last chance to change his mind

Slaven Bilic gave Dimitri Payet one last chance to change his mind about refusing to play for West Ham before going public.

Bilic revealed that Payet had been banished from first-team training at his press conference on Thursday.

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Why losing Payet would be a heavy blow

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The midfielder, one of the stars of last season’s Premier League campaign, is refusing to play - Sky sources understand he is claiming a back injury means he is unfit - and wants to return to France.

And Bilic confirmed that he checked that Payet felt the same way on Thursday, just before he faced the nation’s media.

West Ham United's Dimitri Payet takes a free kick during at the London Stadium.
Image: Payet has been banished from first-team training

Bilic wrote in his Evening Standard column: "This situation with Dimitri has been developing for a little while now. Two days ago, he and I had a meeting. I won’t disclose what was said, but I was left in no doubt as to his intentions.

"Yesterday, just before the normal pre-match press conference, I asked Dimitri one more time: 'Are you standing by what you said a couple of days ago or have you thought more about it?'

"He replied that he was standing by his decision, so that was that. The right thing to do then was to tell the supporters and the players what was happening and I informed the squad later that morning, before we began training."

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France's forward Dimitri Payet celebrates after scoring during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying football match France vs Bulgaria on October 7, 2016  at
Image: Payet wants to return home to France

Bilic admits that he would love to have the France international available but must now plan for life without him.

"It has left me sad, angry, but at the moment Dimitri has said he will not play for the club, so I have no alternative but to plan for Saturday’s match without him," he said.

"He will not train with the rest of the squad and the club’s position remains consistent, which is that he is not for sale."

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Neil Lennon admits it'll be tough for West Ham to convince Dimitri Payet to stay, after the midfielder asked to leave the club