A family feud is the reason behind Dimitri Payet's bitter departure from West Ham, according to theDaily Mail.
Payet's wife,Ludivine Lacrone, flew back to Marseille to live with her mother after the France international told the Hammers he no longer wished to play for the club. The 29-year-old refused to play for Slaven Bilic's side until he was granted his £25m move to former club Marseille.
However, the Mail believe that behind the negotiations between the two clubs there is a family split, during which Lacrone has not spoken with or seen her grandparents for seven years. Payet has cited only 'personal reasons' for the reason behind his departure from the Premier League, but Lacrone immediately returned home when Payet made his intentions known.
On rentre à la maison pic.twitter.com/AcwO3FChYt
"We do no speak and have not spoken in over seven years," Claude Lacorne, 72, said.
"We have never heard from them and have no idea where they are or what they are doing."
Claude's wife, Sandrine, was reportedly close to tears when she said she had never met Payet's children - her great grandchildren.
"I know Ludivine has three children but we have never seen them," Sandrine said.
"We do not hear from them or see them. There is no contact from them. They do not call and we have no idea what they are doing."
The pair declined to disclose what had caused the family rift, but one anonymous source claimed the dispute was personal and not about money.
"A lot of family disputes are over money but not in this case. It's just too personal to go into but is so sad," the source said.
"Claude and Sandrine are growing old and not ever seeing their family. They had a big bust up seven years ago and have severed all contact. Not one telephone call or a visit."
Payet's fine displays last season saw him recognised as one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League but the midfielder failed to produce similar form this term, scoring three goals in 22 appearances in all competitions.