Dmitri Payet's agent has claimed an interview that supposedly took place between a journalist and his player was 'pure invention'.
In the interview, Payet was supposed to have said he was "100% staying at West Ham" but Jacques Olivier Auguste says he is surprised by these quotes emerging in the media.
"I am surprised by this information because Dimitri has not done an interview with any media outlet," Payet's agent told Daily Mercato.
"The only thing that is certain is that he is enjoying his holidays that he deserves and he is licking the wounds caused by the Euro 2016 final defeat. So he is only thinking about recharging at the moment.
"These declarations are pure inventions in the imagination of a journalist. This deserved a response."
The journalist in question has responded in kind on Twitter with a picture of his mates with Payet at M20 service station where he is claimed to have said he is staying at the London club.
Dimitri Payet with my pals at M20 services returning from Euro 2016, where he said: I'm 100% staying at #whufc pic.twitter.com/yuhBYsLXUl
— Justin Allen (@justinallen1976) July 16, 2016
Truth? A slip of the tongue by Payet? Or simply pure invention? That remains to be seen as the French attacking midfielder possibly doesn't want to rule out the possibility of a Champions League club entering the race for his signature without ruining his relationship with West Ham and the club's fans. The 29-year-old is highly-rated and could be the target of a bid but his agent is not willing to give anything away on those matters just yet.
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