Olympique Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet admits he's been staying in contact with Patrice Evra since his axing.

OM sacked Evra before Christmas after clashing with fans in Portugal.

The veteran fullback signed for West Ham last week, where Payet spent two seasons before things turned sour.

He told Bein Sport: "Yes, we texted a few times. Yes I understood his sacking because that's what I lived in West Ham. When there is a point of no return with the supporters, the situation is settled. That's why West Ham let me go. They saw that the fans did not want me anymore. And when the fans do not want you anymore, it's complicated. It's a bit like what Pat lived.

"The whole group intervened. There was a reaction but there were supporters who came on the ground to insult him. We do not say he was right but we must not forget that there was a provocation. We are men and there are things we can not let pass. If he went that far, it's because something happened."