Mathieu Flamini wants to finish his career with the ‘club of his heart’, Marseille.
The tenacious midfielder started his career with the Ligue 1 side before moving to Arsenal in 2004, but still has a close relationship with the French club’s sporting director Jose Anigo.
The 29-year-old re-signed for the Gunners in the summer having spent five years at AC Milan on a two-year contract, but revealed he wants to finish his career at the club where it all started, Marseille.
Speaking about a potential future move to the Stade Velodrome, Flamini said:
‘You should never say never.
‘I did my apprenticeship there. Of course it’s the club of my heart.
‘I’ve always stayed close to it, because I’m in contact with Jose Anigo, someone who knows me very well.’
Flamini did however say nothing is set in concrete, and that he still has some good years ahead of him before possibly moving back to Marseille:
‘There has never been anything concrete and I have some good years ahead me.’
Personally, I would not begrudge him a move to his beloved Marseille in the future, and it didn’t anger me when he left for Milan five years ago.
The fact is when his current deal at the Emirates expires he will be 31 and during that time Arsenal (I hope) would’ve brought in new blood – either from the youth set-up or signing someone from another club – to replace the French enforcer.
