Curious article, both for content and timing http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/10...ed-marseille-move/102534/#PEbKJXqifRZYjqjY.99 Joey Barton has blamed QPR owner Tony Fernandes for blocking his permanent move to Marseille, this despite having manager Harry Redknapp's blessing. Barton returned to QPR this summer after his loan spell at Marseille, but the fiery midfielder had his heart set on moving to France on a full-time basis. QPR had been keen on getting a transfer fee for the same, but Marseille's financial situation did not allow for that meaning the move fell through. "When I came back this summer, the situation was very difficult", Barton told L'Equipe. "The club had been relegated and had to sell players. "So I was confident. I said to myself: 'I'll work in training, I will be quiet, and in the end I will leave for Marseille and all will be well'. "We had an agreement with OM and I also spoke with Harry [Redknapp]. He told me that he understood why I wanted to leave and did not prevent me. "But then, the QPR chairman refused to let me go on a free. He asked Marseille to pay a transfer fee, and it was not possible." While Barton insists he is happy to be back playing in England, seeing Marseille compete in Europe still has the Englishman pining for action at the Stade Velodrome. Marseille are currently without points in the Champions League â after two straight defeats â but Barton added: "I also would have liked to be playing [in Europe]. "But I'm especially happy for them, because I kept friends there. I would have loved to be there again, but that's how it is. I hope that one day I can play a Champions League match at the Velodrome. "I'm just happy to play football. If I have to stay [at QPR], I at least want to have fun on the field."
'I could have caused problems here at the club (QPR) or with the coach so they would let me go. I even think that would have worked. But I am not that kind of guy. I have never done that at a club in my career.' I haven't gone away you know....
Curious headline when you read the article though. Some stirring going on here by the newspapers no doubt.
Good for Tony, having the club's best interests at heart - Good for Barton that he didn't sulk or let it affect his play...just a shame he has to bring this up now
Its what all footballers seem to do when talking to the foreign press - tell them what they think they want to hear, especially if that involves slagging off the English - then claim to have been misquoted or 'taken out of context'. To be fair to Barton (which is unusual for me) its very consistent with what he said in the 'I regret the rant' piece, except for reference to Tony, which could well be factual, distorted by the headline. He has never hidden the fact that he wants to play for OM. What happens if they get some cash together and come for him in January?
If they wouldn't cough up a transfer fee then I dont think that's TF fault. Guess they didn't rate you that much did they!?
Barton made no secret of the fact that he wanted to stay at OM, and he has admitted that he was foolish to say that he would not play in the Championship - who would not want to play in the Champions League? There's nothing new in this interview, other than TF demanding a transfer fee (fair play to him), and Barton didn't write the headline. Move on.
Perhaps a more interesting headline would have been: "Tony Fernandes Blocked My Toilet" ...then we could have had a thread on the dietary merits of Malaysian food.
