With Le Classique just around the corner, the French media are getting very excited, and trying to get as many exclusives as possible before Sunday, with interviews popping up left, right and centre.
One man who, unfortunately for Marseille, will miss the game will be Swansea loanee Bafétimbi Gomis, who is currently out injured with a sprained knee picked up in the 3-2 loss against Nantes 10 days ago.
Out for four to six weeks, the forward has been in fine form for Marseille, something that never quite happened at the Liberty Stadium, scoring 16 goals in 24 league appearances.
He said: “I came out of two difficult seasons at Swansea where I wasn’t given a lot of game time. I had a few offers. My agent did everything for me to join Marseille despite last minute offers. He did everything for me to fit in their finances. It was difficult, he didn’t tell me everything.
“When I arrived in the office, I realised a few things. I looked at him. He told me: ‘Trust me and sign’. I’m referring to differences in my wages, clauses, contract details, bonuses. He’d said we’d reached an agreement. It wasn’t quite the case.”
The Swansea forward went on to explain that he wanted more than anything for the two clubs to reach an agreement, and he eventually agreed the deal as his agent knew ‘better than anyone else’ that he worked best when he’s ‘got a fire under my ass’.
We can only assume that one of those bonuses includes scoring 20 goals?
As for a possible return to the Liberty Stadium, Gomis is just like everyone else: he doesn’t really know.
He explained: “I signed for a year. I won’t be the one with the final word. I’m happy in Marseille. I had the chance of being a part of the start of this project, but I’m not making plans. If there are talks, my agents will handle them at the end of the season. We’ve got all summer to discuss it.”
