Crystal Palace’s Steve Mandanda has been linked with a return to Marseille this summer.
Steve Mandanda’s time with Crystal Palace has been inauspicious so far.
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has insisted he’s entirely focused on the club and has no plans to leave.
Foot Mercato claimed this week that an agreement had been reached between the French international and his old club Olympique Marseille for a three-year deal, but Mandanda has rejected these claims on Facebook.
“As I have already mentioned a few weeks ago: despite my commitment to Olympique de Marseille there is currently no contact between the leaders and me,” he wrote.
“I am focusing on my club [Crystal Palace] and our maintenance in the Premier League.”
Mandanda had spent nine seasons at Marseille before joining Palace on a free transfer in the summer but hasn’t enjoyed the best of times in South London.
He has made only nine Premier League appearances – failing to keep a clean sheet in all of them – and hasn’t featured since suffering a knee injury in November.
Despite being fit again, the Frenchman wasn’t even on the bench against West Brom with Wayne Hennessey preferred between the sticks, a surprising development given the Welshman’s form this season has been patchy at best.
Will Mandanda be back in a Marseille shirt next season?
This, combined with comments Mandanda made last month, as covered by RMC Sport, that it would be a “great pleasure” to play for Marseille again have raised doubts over his future.
The 31-year-old, who has won 24 France caps, still has three years remaining on his deal at Selhurst Park.
Though many at Palace wouldn’t necessarily miss his limited input, it is fair to say that he hasn’t had a chance to prove the obvious quality his career has demonstrated he is capable of producing.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
