Balde off to Marseille?

[sligoman]

French outfit Marseille are confident of capturing Celtic defender Bobo Balde this week.

The 29-year-old has had a miserable start to the new campaign, suggesting his mind is elsewhere.

The Guinean international was expected to leave during the pre-season after claiming that Bayern Munich were in for him but it now appears that he will get his wish to leave.

Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo said: 'The Balde deal should be done. I've seldom seen somebody who has such a desire to join us.'

[drinkfeckarse]

Now be careful Sligoman, you might get a ban for discussing this

His mind has been elsewhere ever since the African Nations Cup in January 2004. Never looked the same player since for some reason. It's a sore one not to get a fee for him but that's Celtic all out for you

They get him to sign a contract extension in January to stop him going to Middlesboro but insert a clause in it which says he can go for free if someone comes in for him before the 31st of August.....which Bobo goes and proclaims to all and sundry as soon as the transfer window opens

[sligoman]

Now be careful Sligoman, you might get a ban for discussing this

This isn't SPL talk, this is French league talk

[Poor Student]

I'm very new to this job here and I don't want to come in all guns blazing. In my interpretation of board policy I'll say to keep this strictly towards discussion of the individual player and his new club.

In my opinion he's a total liability. He's a headless chicken at times. His distribution of the ball is embarrassing. He's also very dangerous due to his clumsiness even though he is not a nasty person. In his favour he is good in the air, committed to a tackle and near impossible to muscle to the ball.

[sligoman]

I'm very new to this job here

Congrats on the promotion

and I don't want to come in all guns blazing. In my interpretation of board policy I'll say to keep this strictly towards discussion of the individual player and his new club.

That was the plan. I started this thread to discuss what ye think about Balde and what ye think about this transfer, not an SPL thread so please posters, dont end up getting this thread closed!

[Poor Student]

That was the plan. I started this thread to discuss what ye think about Balde and what ye think about this transfer, not an SPL thread so please posters, dont end up getting this thread closed!

Don't worry sligo. It's just the whole SPL thingy will be mainly cropping up on this forum which is my area, just wanted to set things straight. There should be now problems here.

Move along people, nothing to see here.

[sligoman]

Move along people, nothing to see here.

[eirebhoy]

He's a superb player with a Mjallby type player beside him. Top class in Europe in the back 3. Voted Player of the Year when Celtic got to the UEFA cup final. If Marseille have an organisor at the club they've got themselves a bargain. If they don't, beware of the calamities.

[Poor Student]

He's a superb player with a Mjallby type player beside him. Top class in Europe in the back 3. Voted Player of the Year when Celtic got to the UEFA cup final. If Marseille have an organisor at the club they've got themselves a bargain. If they don't, beware of the calamities.

Eire that's a common thing I see said about Balde but I'm not sure. I think he's possibly lost his way and his confidence. The change of scene could do him good however even in a more solid partnership he was prone to some real gaffes and his distribution is amongst the worst I've seen. He takes these darting runs only to miss a simple pass, hoofs the ball well into nowhere and is often caught hanging on the ball and being clumsy.

[eirebhoy]

Eire that's a common thing I see said about Balde...

Mostly started by me on all the Celtic forums. I am 100% sure Balde would be excellent beside Kenny Cunningham. His heading, tacking and pace are better than most centre halfs. His on the ball play is poor but thats not a big problem and can be sorted out by telling him to pass it short to his partner. His positional sense is poor, it always has been, which is why he needs an organisor beside him.

[tetsujin1979]

Deal supposed to be off, wage demands too high for Marseille.

[Hibs4Ever]

One of the worst defenders I've ever seen, comical in fact. What were Marseille thinking

[sligoman]

Bobo Balde is on his way back to Celtic after turning down a move to Marseille, according to his adviser Mick Oliver.

The 29-year-old defender flew to France on Sunday and was expected to end his stay with the Glasgow giants.

Oliver told the Daily Record: 'It isn't Bobo's fault if Marseille's website jumped the gun and claimed he had as good as signed for them.

'They have pursued him for the last six weeks but he has turned down their latest offer and is focused on Celtic 100%.'

[drinkfeckarse]

One of the worst defenders I've ever seen, comical in fact. What were Marseille thinking

No I've seen worse to be fair, Gary Caldwell for one.......

[Hibs4Ever]

No I've seen worse to be fair, Gary Caldwell for one.......

Yeah right

[Poor Student]

From soccernet.

Balde deal 'still alive', say Marseille


Marseille claim their bid to sign Celtic star Bobo Balde is not dead despite confusion surrounding the deal.

Bobo Balde: Back at Celtic. (StuForster/GettyImages)

Balde's adviser Mick Oliver claimed the defender was on his way back to Scotland and was committed to the Hoops.


But the French club are adamant they are still in negotiations and hope to tie up the loose ends later today.

A Marseille spokesperson said: 'Bobo Balde is not now at Olympique Marseille but there are still negotiations going on and maybe at the end of the day we will find a solution and complete the transfer.

'Talks have not collapsed and the deal is still alive.

'There are only little problems stopping this going through and if it's possible these problems will be finished at the end of the day. He still wants to sign for Marseille.'

The 29-year-old flew to France on Sunday and was expected to end his stay with the Glasgow giants.

Balde has a clause in his contract which will allow him to speak to other clubs and walk away for nothing but despite this his adviser claims he is still committed to Celtic.

Oliver told the Daily Record: 'It isn't Bobo's fault if Marseille's website jumped the gun and claimed he had as good as signed for them.

'Marseille never gave up where he is concerned.

'They have pursued him for the last six weeks but he has turned down their latest offer and is focused on Celtic 100%.

'Bobo has so far turned away Schalke, Werder Bremen, Birmingham and Newcastle to name but a few.

'What does that say about his loyalty to Celtic?'

Oliver added: 'The next three weeks will be tough on Bobo because he always has to convince people this has nothing to do with money.

'If he had signed for Marseille it would have involved a significant drop in wages so there is more than money to think about.'
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Balde seems to have been flirting around with many clubs. Over the last few months he reportedly nearly moved to Bayern and Boro. It's hard to tell whether he is in fact very loyal or just none of the clubs would take him.