Football
Mark Rodden 8y

No deal for Marseille sale nor Marcelo Bielsa return - Gerard Lopez

Gerard Lopez, who was linked with a takeover of Marseille earlier this week, has denied that an agreement is in place to buy the club.

The nine-time French champions were put up for sale in April and France Football claimed that Lopez, 44, had not only agreed to take over but had also convinced Marcelo Bielsa to return as manager.

Current owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus responded by issuing a statement which said that the report was based on "false and unverified information" and which condemned the speculation as "fanciful."

Luxembourg businessman Lopez, the former owner of the Lotus Formula 1 team, has also rejected the rumour.

"Nothing is signed with anybody -- neither with the seller nor with any manager, including Marcelo Bielsa," Lopez told L'Equipe.

"These incessant rumours and flights of fancy have to stop. They're bad for the club and for its future.

"I've never spoken to the press nor have any of my collaborators - we respect the club, its supporters and the current owner."

On Thursday, Le Parisien suggested that an American investment fund, the Guggenheim Partners, were slight favourites to complete the purchase of the club ahead of Lopez.

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