Ndiaye Leaves Marseille Door Ajar After £60m City Move
Iliman Ndiaye has only just arrived at the Etihad, but the Senegal winger is already talking about a return to the club where it all began. In an interview with French outlet La Provence, the £60 million summer deadline day capture from Everton admitted he is open to the idea of representing Olympique Marseille for a third time.
It is a rare note of sentiment from a player who has spent his career moving on. Born in Rouen, Normandy, Ndiaye relocated to the south of France as a child and came through Marseille's youth ranks before heading to Sheffield United for his first taste of Premier League football. A move back to Marseille followed in 2023, though it lasted only a single season before he left for Goodison Park.
"The shouts from Marseille supporters asking me to come back? It is nice to hear," Ndiaye said. "I don't think that the story is finished, but we will see. I'm just saying, I never know where it'll lead me, but we'll see anyway."
At 26, Ndiaye has already packed a lot into his career. It was at Everton that he hit his highest level to date, form that convinced City to sign him on a deal until June 2031. The move to Manchester represents a significant step up, and the club's supporters will hope his focus remains fixed on the present rather than the pull of old flames in Ligue 1.
Ndiaye's comments are unlikely to cause panic behind the scenes. Players speak warmly about former clubs all the time, and there is no suggestion he is angling for an exit just weeks after arriving. Still, the candour is notable. Most new signings trot out the usual lines about ambition and project; Ndiaye, by contrast, is happy to admit he does not know where his career will take him next.
City, for their part, have rather more immediate concerns. The club were found guilty of serious financial breaches within Premier League rules spanning nine seasons and judged to have inflated revenues by more than £900 million through 'sham' arrangements. They face the threat of a heavy points deduction or worse, and have swiftly launched an appeal against the independent commission's decision and verdict. City continue to insist publicly that 'irrefutable evidence' exists to clear their name.
In that context, Ndiaye's reflective tone might be the least of the club's worries. Former manager Pep Guardiola is considering a return to the Etihad Stadium as a showing of support for his previous club in light of the guilty verdict — a gesture that will carry weight with a fanbase still processing the commission's findings.
Whether Ndiaye's Marseille reunion ever materialises is a question for another day. For now, he is a City player, and the Blues have a season to navigate. The winger's words suggest he will not be rushed into anything. "We'll see anyway," he said. It is hardly a rallying cry, but it is honest enough.