Although Marseille’s season has ultimately ended in disappointment – three consecutive league defeats capping off Igor Tudor’s short-lived reign – there will have been some unquestionably bright spots in a campaign where Les Phocéens once looked to be challenging PSG for the title.
One of those has been the arrival of Alexis Sánchez, who signed on a free transfer from Inter last summer. The veteran Chilean, playing in an isolated centre-forward role, has ended the season as his team’s top scorer with 14 goals in the league. His tireless pressing work up front and technical class have also been crucial for Ligue 1’s third-placed side.
However, whether the 34-year-old extends his one-year deal remains uncertain, with the former Arsenal and Barcelona man reportedly waiting to see who the next manager will be before committing his short-term future to Marseille. In a press conference this afternoon, club president Pablo Longoria has discussed Sánchez’s future, and indicated that negotiations over a renewal have been promising thus far:
“We’re having discussions with his agent. We’ve informed him that we intend to carry on with him. We agree that he’s an international-level player, at a very high level. But then there’s the finances, which is a question for lots of players in Europe. I think he has felt loved and respected here. Am I confident? Both sides are attentive. Talks have begun in positive fashion.”
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
