Long expected to leave Crystal Palace this summer despite arriving just last year, Steve Mandanda finally got his move, returning to his former club Marseille.
Helpless as he conceded six goals on Sunday night in a 6-1 loss to Monaco, the France number two is nonetheless thrilled to be back in the south of France and far away from Selhurst Park after long and drawn out saga.
Invited on Canal+’s Canal Football Club on Sunday night, the 32-year-old was asked about his transfer, and the goalkeeper admitted it was very difficult to pull off.
He said, relayed by But! Football Club: “Leaving Crystal Palace? Yes, it was hell. At one point, I thought the deal would collapse. I had to kiss goodbye to a lot of money”.
Revealing the deal first materialised when he bumped into Rudi Garcia in Marseille after his injury at Crystal Palace and the two had a 10 minute conversation, the shot stopper was told by the manager a door was open for his return if he so wished.
That’s when he started thinking about leaving London.
Now back where he feels he belongs, Mandanda even went as far as saying that he hoped to be able to end his career at Marseille, even though he understands that anything can happen in football.
Except a return to Crystal Palace.
