That’s it. It’s done.
After months and months of speculation, talks of stalled negotiations and Crystal Palace asking for rather exorbitant prices for a player who barely set foot on the field for them last season, Steve Mandanda will be returning to Marseille.
That is, at least, what France Football journalist Nabil Djellit reported on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, claiming the deal between the two sides was done, and the 32-year-old had agreed to rejoin his former side on a three-year deal, leaving Selhurst Park just over 12 month after his arrival.
C’est fait pour #Mandanda à l’#OM. Il s’est engagé pour une durée de 3 ans. Le retour d’une figure du club qui compte ! pic.twitter.com/dBJ17E5hPz
— Nabil Djellit (@Nabil_djellit) 11 July 2017
Never trusted by Sam Allardyce following his bad knee injury, the Crystal Palace goalkeeper seemed set to return to Marseille after the announcement of their new project via a new owner towards the end of last year, and his wish has now come true.
Despite Yohann Pelé’s great performances last season, the Ligue 1 side were looking for a marquee goalkeeper, and who better than the man who was between their sticks between 2008 and 2016?
He knows the club, loves the area and will start every week.
It’s just a shame Crystal Palace fans never really got to see what he was actually capable of doing, mostly because their start to the season under Alan Pardew was pretty abysmal.
Still, they’ll undoubtedly make a profit on him despite just making 10 appearances for them last year.
