• Premier League

Marseille dampen Barton link

ESPN staff
August 18, 2012
Joey Barton has not been given a squad number at QPR © Getty Images
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Marseille chairman Vincent Labrune has played down talk of a swap deal involving Stephane Mbia for Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton.

Barton's immediate future looks set to lie away from QPR after he was not given a squad number by manager Mark Hughes, with the player suspended for the first 12 games of the season.

It was claimed this week that the former Newcastle player could join Marseille on a season-long loan while Mbia could head to Loftus Road as part of the agreement.

However, Labrune has told L'Equipe: "We are not attracted in a paying loan for Stephane, with an option to buy. So today there is no more talk.

"We are not refusing a departure, but under such conditions we have to look elsewhere."

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