Earlier in April, Watford confirmed on their official website they have agreed a deal to sign Pape Gueye and the midfielder was expected to arrive at Vicarage Road after his contract expires at Le Havre.
He agreed a five-year contract with the Hornets, effective from July 1st. The 21-year-old, however, cancelled his contract with the Championship side and moved to Marseille in the summer.
It was a complicated case as the Frenchman accused his former agent of badly advising him to accept the English club’s five-year contract that included a reported basic salary of £45,000 per month.
His entourage had made it clear in June the player will not be joining Watford and his preference was to sign for the Ligue 1 side.
Gueye ended up at Marseille instead of playing for a club that was relegated from the Premier League last term.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Gueye was asked about his decision to not join Watford and arrive at the French club.
“I came to improve. Whether I’m a substitute or a starter, I try to give the maximum in every game. I am in a great team. There is competition. It’s up to me to show that I deserve to play. My aborted transfer to the Premier League? I’m at Marseille and I’m very happy to be here, it’s going well,” Gueye was quoted as saying by Le10 Sport.
Gueye even admitted a conversation with Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara convinced him to sign for André Villas-Boas’ side.
“Beyond football, I’m good friends with Kamara and Cuisance. I met Kamara in the France U17 team. There you go, we have remained good friends, we have confidence, and today we play on the same team,” he explained.
“It is very beautiful. It made my integration easier. Before coming here, I had discussions with Bouba, he gave me some little advice and we talked a lot…”
