An exasperated Slaven Bilic declared to the media this week that his side's biggest star, Dimitri Payet, is refusing to play for West Ham. The 29-year-old Frenchman is seemingly interested in pushing for a move elsewhere and has since informed the manager and the club’s hierarchy that he’s willing to leave the side this month.
The winter transfer window is ongoing and the Frenchman has a host of potential suitors both in England and abroad but West Ham – and Slaven Bilic – have both reiterated that the former Marseille man isn’t for sale.
Payet was nominated for the PFA Player of the Year last season for his contributions to the club but he isn’t the only top player to refuse to play for their club. There have been many like him in the past and here are five such players:
#5 Sebastien Squillaci – Sevilla
With strong interest from Premier League side Arsenal, Frenchman Sebastien Squillaci refused to play for his then-club Sevilla in an effort to push through the move – and to ensure he could represent the Gunners in the UEFA Champions League; something he couldn't have done should he have played for the La Liga side in the competition.
Squillaci was even included in the first-team of the UEFA Champions League game his side were to play that evening but the team later found out that he'd pulled out of the squad to seal his move to the Emirates stadium.
His teammate, Julien Escude, summed it up best. “When the coach gave his team talk, Sebastien was starting, then, I do not know what happened, with the coach or Monchi [Sevilla’s sporting director], but there was a change in the line-up. Later, we knew Sebastien refused to play. I am personally a little surprised, but these are things that happen in football. I guess he wanted to leave”
#4 Dimitar Berbatov – Tottenham Hotspur
We all know Tottenham Hotspur’s Chairman, Daniel Levy, to be a strong negotiator and someone who simply cannot be moved but when Dimitar Berbatov said he had enough of playing for the Lilywhites, Levy succumbed.
It all started when the Bulgarian was left out of the squad to play Newcastle United by then-manager Martin Jol and when asked to come on at half-time, he reluctantly agreed. That soon followed by many threats of him not wanting to play for the club.
He eventually pushed for a move to Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson in charge of the club. It remains one of the sole incidents when Daniel Levi gave into a player's demands at White Hart Lane.
#3 William Gallas – Chelsea
Perhaps the funniest incident on this slideshow is William Gallas’ desperate moves to push for a move away from Chelsea. The Frenchman wasn't pleased with the way Jose Mourinho was treating him at Stamford Bridge and reportedly threatened- and this is true – to score own goals if Chelsea forced him to play again.
The Frenchman has since denied those claims multiple times blaming Jose Mourinho for all the problems that were caused. All this was in response to the club releasing an official statement condemning the Frenchman's behaviour and lack of professional ethics.
Gallas was being eyed by Arsenal who were in turn offloading Ashley Cole to Chelsea at the time. Gallas used the interest in his favour, failing to go with his side to Los Angeles for a pre-season tour. He ended up joining the Gunners without travelling with the Blues.
#2 Raheem Sterling – Liverpool
Young Raheem Sterling was having quite the career at Liverpool having joined them from Queens Park Rangers but when he heard of Manchester City’s interest in signing him, compounded by the fact that his side had just lost the Premier League to the Citizens weeks ago, he starting pushing for a move.
The Red's then manager Brendan Rodgers was having a tough time with Sterling who refused to play for the club after word got out that Manchester City were readying a massive £50 million bid to bring him to the Etihad stadium.
Sterling was one of Liverpool's brightest talents that season when they finished second in the Premier League but joined the Champions months later for a British transfer record fee.
#1 Carlos Tevez – Manchester City
It still isn't clear what exactly transpired with Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini and Manchester City. It all started with the Argentine refusing to come on to represent his side in their 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
The club fined him for his behaviour and he then fell out with the manager even more spectacularly. He was then placed on gardening leave for almost four months and was docked pay for almost the entirety of the duration.
He reportedly enjoyed four months of golf back in his home country before coming back to Manchester City welcomed by Roberto Mancini with open arms. Tevez was at the prime of his career at the time and eventually helped his side on his return once again.
What happened in between still remains unclear.
