Iliman Ndiaye has raised the prospect of a return to Olympique de Marseille only weeks after completing his big-money move to Manchester City.
The Senegal international joined City from Everton at the start of last September on a five-year contract worth £60m, with a further £5m available in add-ons. The Premier League club signed him after beating competition from Tottenham Hotspur.
However, Ndiaye has now suggested that his time at Manchester City may not be the end of his relationship with Marseille, whom he left three years ago.
Asked by French newspaper La Provence about Marseille supporters calling for him to return, Ndiaye said: “I am happy to hear that.”
He added: “I do not think the story is over, but we will see. I am just saying I do not know where things will take me, but we will see in any case.”
Ndiaye spent the 2023/24 season at Marseille after joining from Sheffield United, before moving to Everton just one year later. During his time at the French club, he scored four goals and provided five assists in 46 appearances.
He helped Marseille reach the semi-finals of the Europa League, although the campaign was disappointing domestically as the club finished eighth and missed out on European qualification.
Timing of Ndiaye comments questioned
The timing of Ndiaye’s remarks has attracted attention because they came only days after the Premier League announced on Tuesday that Manchester City had been found guilty of all the charges brought against them in the financial fair play case.
Manchester City have appealed against the ruling.
Ndiaye has made four appearances in all competitions since arriving at the Etihad Stadium. Two of those came as starts in the Premier League, against Coventry City and Sunderland, but he has yet to score or provide an assist for the club.
Manchester City’s next match will be a demanding away fixture against Liverpool on Sunday, 11 October, after the international break. It will be their first game since the official guilty verdict was announced.
Three days later, City will host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.