Former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has revealed that securing his return to Marseille from Selhurst Park was “hell”.
The 32-year-old arrived in south London last season as the much-heralded answer to Crystal Palace’s difficulties in goal but injuries and poor form meant he never settled in the Premier League.
Mandanda made just 10 appearances – none of which came after November 5 – and failed to keep a clean sheet in any of his Premier League appearances.
Marseille would ultimately bring Mandanda back to Ligue 1 for an undisclosed fee but did not seal the deal until mid-July, despite it having long been clear that the France international was destined to return to the Stade Velodrome.
“Leaving Crystal Palace? Yes, it was hell,” Mandanda told Canal Football Club.
“At one point, I thought the deal would collapse. I had to kiss goodbye to a lot of money”.
Mandanda’s return to Marseille, where he played over 400 games in his first spell, has not been entirely happy as he conceded six goals in Sunday’s defeat to Monaco.
