Liam Payne can't see Zayn Malik ever returning to One Direction - and doesn't think he should have to either.
Zayn was part of The X Factor U.K. group's original line-up when they shot to fame after finishing in third place on the 2010 series, but quit the band in 2015.
The following year, remaining members Liam, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan went on an indefinite hiatus.
Speaking on Saturday's episode of The Jonathan Ross Show, the Stack It Up star opened up about a potential reunion, and insisted Zayn "shouldn't be there" if it does happen.
“Everybody outwardly in the press has said something but we haven’t really spoke as a collective together,” he said. “All I can say is, through album cycles and single cycles, I see everybody putting songs out at the moment, I don’t think for at least the next two years it’s going to happen.”
When asked if the Pillowtalk hitmaker would come back, Payne said: “No, I don’t think that’ll ever happen. When he left, it wasn’t on great terms so I don’t feel like it’s a thing. If he didn’t want to be here, he shouldn’t be here. Which is fine.
Confessing the two haven't been in contact since he left the boy band, the 26-year-old added: "We did a whole stadium tour without him so I feel like it’s fine.”
