LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer Transfer News

‘Of course’: Southampton ace would love to re-join former club, says it’s ‘tempting’

A general view of St Marys Stadium home of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mar...
Follow us on Google Discover
Mario Lemina of Southampton celebrates scoring the equalising goal with Sofiane Boufal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns on… (Marc Atkins/Offside/Getty Images)

Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina has admitted that he would struggle to turn down the chance to join Marseille again in the future, speaking to Europe1.

The Gabon international might have spent just two years at the Stade Velodrome between 2013 and 2015 but it’s clear to see that one of the most passionate fanbases in European football left their mark on him.

So much so that, given the opportunity, Lemina would be tempted to drop everything if Marseille come calling for him again.

“Yes, of course a possible return to Marseille interests me. Marseille remains a club in my heart,” said the former Juventus ace, who is currently on loan at Galatasaray.

Despite finishing second in Ligue 1 this season, and qualifying for Champions League after a seven year absence, the crisis club of French football appear to have leapt headfirst into yet another catastrophe.

FC ZenitÕs coach from Portugal Andre Villas Boas before the start of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16: First Leg match between SL Benfica and FC Zenit at Estadio da Luz on February 16,… (Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Marseille are under pressure to raise around £100 million in player sales in order to avoid potential Financial Fair Play sanctions, according to Le10 Sport, with Frank McCourt’s so-called ‘Champions Project’ proving to be anything but.

Though with L’Equipe suggesting that Middle Eastern investment could be on the cards, the 1993 European Champions could be transformed from a cash-strapped club into one capable of challenging PSG in the monetary stakes in the very near future.

And, as Lemina is at pains to point out, a return to Marseille would be ‘even more tempting’ if a ‘beautiful project’ gets off the ground.

Photo credit should read BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP via Getty Images