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It was always going to happen; on the four year anniversary of Dimitri Payet signing for West Ham, there was talk around whether he should be brought back.

There were clear arguments both for and against: he is an incredibly talented player who gave us incredible memories, but the unceremonious nature of his departure has meant many fans would no longer trust him.

As much as it hurt at the time, I have come to forgive the Frenchman – choosing to remember the incredible moments of skill we got to see on a regular basis.

Though, while for some this is why they want to see Payet return, it is the exact reason I feel he should be left in the past.

There is a romantic side to football; when a player captures the imagination of an individual or even a fanbase the mind can distort that player to seem like something far greater than they actually are: the way Payet is seen by many West Ham fans is the embodiment of that.

Now 32-years-old, he scored six times and assisted seven last season, which is far from a bad return, but it is highly unlikely he could come back and replicate the pure genius he produced during that final season at Upton Park.

We have got the likes of Pablo Fornals and Felipe Anderson now, so from a practical point of view, it is difficult to see how he could fit into the current team without disruption.

When I think of Payet as a West Ham player I remember the unfathomable dip on his free-kick against Crystal Palace, the awe I felt watching his free-kick against Man United, that mazy dribble against Middlesbrough and all the other magical moments he gave West Ham fans.

He was almost supernatural for the Hammers, I don’t want to potentially see that tainted by mediocre performances or 15-minute cameos at the end of games.

Payet is one of the greatest maverick talents this football club has had for years, but things won’t be the same if he returns – as much as I miss him, it’s best for everyone if we leave him in the past.