Tuesday, 2nd October, 2012
Joey Barton believes his reputation as one of football’s “bad boys” is unfair and has pledged to show his true colours at Marseille.
The 30-year-old midfielder is on a season-long loan at the Stade Velodrome from English Premier League outfit Queens Park Rangers.
relatedNewsStory Barton is currently banned from playing in France’s Ligue 1 after a 12-match suspension followed him from England.
The former Newcastle man was found guilty of violent conduct in QPR’s final game of last season’s Premier League against Manchester City. As a result, he is at present restricted to representing Marseille in the Europa League until next month.
Barton is nevertheless loving life on the French south coast and has moved to repair a reputation which has been attributed to him in England, with many seeing the midfielder as an uncontrollable troublemaker.
“Deep down I’ve always been full of good intentions to win games”, Barton told Marseille’s official site.
“Sometimes my aggression and my will to win take over. And I must face the consequences”, he continued.
“My bad reputation, I find a little unfair.
“Hopefully the people in France and in Marseille will judge me on what I do, not what they read.
“Stories in the English media are like Hollywood, far from the truth.”
Barton and Marseille are preparing for a Europa League clash on Thursday against AEL Limassol. The midfielder will hope for a chance to impress the Stade Velodrome faithful.
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