MARSEILLE SEEK DROGBA RETURN

Didier Drogba
Marseille have revealed they failed in a bid to bring Chelsea star Didier Drogba back to the club this summer.

Club president Jean-Claude Dassier has also admitted coach Didier Deschamps and sporting director Jose Anigo were in disagreement over several potential signings and have only now patched up their working relationship after a difficult summer at Stade Velodrome.

The French champions turned their attentions to former hero Drogba after being knocked back in their quest to sign Sevilla hit-man Luis Fabiano.

However, Chelsea rebuffed their overtures for Drogba, who left Marseille for Stamford Bridge in 2004 in a £24million deal, but Dassier has refused to rule out a future move for the Ivory Coast ace.

'We even tried to bring in Drogba, but this has not been possible,' Dassier told L'Equipe. 'We'll see, you should never give up in life.'

Dassier revealed that Deschamps and Anigo had met for clear-the-air talks after a testing summer.

'This helped dispel some of the misunderstandings,' added Dassier. They said what they thought of each other, it's good.

'The tensions are behind us. Today they are working together again after a complicated month.'

Dassier revealed the two men disagreed on the departure of top scorer Mamadou Niang, who left for Fenerbahce after asking to be sold due to the arrivals of Andre-Pierre Gignac and Loic Remy, while the club's attempt and failure to sign Alou Diarra from Bordeaux also led to disagreements.

'Indeed, about the Mamadou Niang transfer there was disagreement and about Hatem Ben Arfa it was difficult.

'But Anigo never stood in Deschamps' way when the coach made a choice.'

Dassier also revealed the club plan talks with Stephane Mbia over a new deal at Stade Velodrome.

'About Mbia. He is a great player with a very demanding character,' noted Dassier.

'I have planned a meeting with him in January. If he has a great first part to the season, we will find a good agreement.'