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Joey Barton urged to join Marseille permanently from QPR
MARSEILLE have encouraged Joey Barton to leave QPR and join them permanently after his season-long loan spell finished.
QPR may backtrack on suggestions that Joey Barton will return to Loftus Road, after Marseille indicated they would like to sign him permanently.
Rangers owner Tony Fernandes had claimed he would look to bring Barton back to West London to boost the club's chances of immediate promotion to the Premier League.
However, QPR need to cut their wage bill and high-earner Barton may be sacrificed as Marseille are prepared to take him on a permanent deal.
And Barton, who made 29 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit this season, wants to stay in France, telling Canal+: "The reason I want to continue in Marseille is simple.
"I am very happy with my life here and with my relationship with the players. This is about more than money.
"The [Marseille] fans have not seen the real Barton and I want to show them my real level of play."