New Marseille signing Joey Barton
Barton, 30, joined the French club on Friday after a protracted negotiation, after being told he could leave Loftus Road by manager Mark Hughes.
The media in France are now enjoying the insight of one of Britain's most opinionated footballers.
Other players to make the move across the Channel include Joe Cole, who impressed with Lille last year, former Marseille men Chris Waddle, Trevor Steven, and Irish striker Tony Cascarino, who also had spells with Bastia and Red Star 93.
Speaking to the division's official website, the 30-year-old said: "English players have done well in France. Cole, Cascarino, Waddle, Steven. French football is top-level football. There is the problem with the cultural differences and the languages and I will have to adapt.''
The former Manchester City fan believes the universal nature of football will allow him to settle quickly in southern France.
"Everybody supports the club in this city,'' he added. "OM (Olympique Marseille) has an English feel to it in some ways, with the supporters and the atmosphere. OM could be an English club. The club and the city are intrinsically linked. It`s not like London or Paris. Football is integral to the city. When the team wins, the whole city is happy.''
No comments:
Post a Comment