Barton claims Marseille deal in place

MARSEILLE (AFP) –

Marseille’s Bristish midfielder Joey Barton waves at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, southeastern France on April 5, 2013. On-loan Barton said on Tuesday that a deal had been arranged for him to make his move to the Ligue 1 club from Queens Park Rangers permanent at the end of the season.

On-loan Marseille midfielder Joey Barton said on Tuesday that a deal had been arranged for him to make his move to the Ligue 1 club from Queens Park Rangers permanent at the end of the season.

“I’m loving life in France. Loving Marseille. They love me. All I want to do is give everything for this football club. They backed me when nobody else did,” Barton, on loan from English Premier League strugglers QPR, posted on his Twitter account.

“Agreement already in place for me to stay here,” added the 30-year-old, who also said the Mediterranean club was “in his blood”.

“I really hope QPR stay up (in the Premier League). I have all season…(but) I don’t want to be part of it. It was a move for me that just never worked out. Sometimes that happens. Marseille is my home now,” wrote the outspoken Barton.

However, Marseille president Vincent Labrune subsequently denied the player’s claims.

“We would not be against the idea of keeping Joey Barton at OM but it’s not up to us, he belongs to QPR. He’s a player on loan without an option to buy so it’s not for us to say. There is by no means agreement like the one (he) has suggested,” Labrune told French daily 20Minutes.

Barton caused an uproar last week after making disparaging remarks about Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva, which led to him being summoned to appear at a French football disciplinary hearing on April 15.