Little Chance of Joey Barton Ending Up at Marseille Insists French Side’s President

Saturday, 18th August, 2012

Marseille president Vincent Labrune believes that there is little chance of the French giants loaning midfielder Joey Barton from English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers at present.

Labrune had been expecting to sell defensive rock Stephane Mbia to the Rs and would then take Barton on a season-long loan deal.

Indeed, Barton’s agent is believed to have suggested QPR would pay €6.5M for Mbia, with his client then heading to the Stade Velodrome at part of transaction – but no offer has arrived.

"The condition was that we had a firm offer for Mbia", Labrune told French radio station RMC.

"Having Barton on loan was something we had never thought of. Can you imagine that? At the time though, I said, why not?"

The Marseille supremo insisted that now though, with a move for Mbia to Loftus Road looking dead, signing Barton is not an option.

"The likelihood of QPR signing Mbia is now very low and, in this case, the loan of Barton is unthinkable."

Read our brand new betting tips & articles on the matches ahead at Inside-Bet.com