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Barton 'hopeful' of Marseille move

Joey Barton is looking to leave Queens Park Rangers this week © PA Photos

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Joey Barton has spoken of his desperation to leave Queens Park Rangers and said he hopes a move to Marseille can be agreed in the coming days.

Barton appears to have no future at Loftus Road after his actions in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of last season resulted in a 12-match suspension for the current campaign.

He lost his shirt number ahead of the new season and, with Marseille interested in a deal, is eager to leave the club after losing the trust of manager Mark Hughes.

Writing extensively on his Twitter account, he said: "Marseille won again ... Allez les Marseillais. I am hopeful that things will be sorted out soon. Other clubs are in but I only want to play in Marseille. This is the place for me. Hopefully, QPR and Marseille can finalise the deal in the next few days. My heart is already in the Velodrome.

"Not gonna cry about it. Maybe it's just time to move on. I enjoyed parts of last season and believe I am more than capable of playing this year. But the manager doesn't. Such is life. I have no problem with this as it's my fault I am banned for 12 (10 now) games. When a person makes a decision he has to stand by that. I respect Hughes for this. I don't agree but accept his decision.

"I am not the type of player to sit on the sidelines and take the cash. It's not me. I could do that for the next three years but it's not me. I want to play football. Hopefully, the QPR fans will accept that. I offered to resign from the club/contract when I got my ban.

"@tonyfernandes and @Amit_Bhatia99 will testify that I am telling the truth. I accepted my punishment from the FA and the club for my behaviour against Man City like a man.

"I could have appealed as is my right. I choose not to out of respect. But when I returned to the club, I am forced to train away from the 1st team. I am stripped of the captaincy. Then, made to train at 3pm. Then, I am hawked around on loan. Then, I have my shirt number taken without any notice. Then, I read I wouldn't have been signed had the current regime been in place.

"I accepted all this. I never once spoke out of turn or angrily towards anybody. I am a man. I can only take so much. I want to leave. I hope to move on with my career, with my life. If that is in France, so be it. I don't want to be disrespectful to QPR but enough is enough.

"Good night people. I've said enough for today. I'll get in trouble. No doubt. But this is how it is. This is life!"

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