Barton wants to end career at Marseille

QPR midfielder Joey Barton is keen to secure a permanent move away from the Premier League and finish his career at Marseille.

The 30-year-old is delighted with how he has settled into life at the Stade Velodrome, praising the club for making him feel welcome since his temporary move.

“I don’t know (if I will stay beyond my loan). It’s not my decision. It is between Queens Park Rangers and Marseille,” Barton said.

“If I had my choice, I would stay here for the rest of my career. I love this place, I have a great relationship with the people, the staff, the manager, the players, the fans. I feel like I’m at home.

“I haven’t played many games. I can’t wait to put the Marseille shirt on, to show people that I like to play football.”

The midfielder also commented on the structure of French football, insisting that a director of football system is best, as a coach is enabled to focus on his work with the players.

“In England, I think it doesn’t work as well as in France and elsewhere in Europe,” said Barton of the structure of English clubs.

“The system with a sporting director, a president and a coach, is better.

“In England, if you have a problem with the manager, he must go with all the staff. This is a big problem for a club. If I owned a club, I would use the French system. The English system, I don’t think works.”