Valbuena nears Marseille exit

Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena has set his sights on leaving Stade Velodrome in the summer, reports L’Equipe.

The French giants did well to keep hold of their star player despite heavy interest from abroad, but it appears they will have to cash in on him at the end of the current campaign.

According to L’Equipe, Valbuena is looking for a new challenge and will ask the club to be allowed to leave in the summer transfer window.

The France international has a long list of suitors among top European clubs, with Atletico Madrid and Napoli reportedly leading the chase.

Mathieu Valbuena, 29, has been at Stade Velodrome since 2006, and has made a total of 228 Ligue 1 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals in the process.

Marseille remained in fifth place in the overall standings as they shared spoils with Toulouse and they are 3/5 to return to winning ways against Bastia.