By Mitchell Grima
24 May 2011 14:26:00
Uefa Champions League : Didier Deschamps (Olympique de Marseille) – (Gettyimages)
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Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo has stated his desire for coach Didier Deschamps to remain at the club next season, but has put Roma and Chelsea on alert by revealing that the coach has yet to make his mind up about a possible exit.
Il Corriere dello Sport has reported that Deschamps and Roma’s sporting director, Walter Sabatini, had tentatively agreed terms for the Frenchman to take over, while he is also allegedly on a list of names considered for the vacant Chelsea job after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked.
The 1998 World Cup winner has a release clause in his contract permitting an exit from the club until June 15 for a fee of £2.6 million, and although Anigo believes it is essential to retain his services at the Stade Velodrome next year, he admitted it would be the tactician’s decision whether or not to stay.
“He is still under contract until 2012, I do not see why he would leave,” Anigo told RMC.
“It is his choice to stay or go, but I would prefer him to stay because it is always better to have a coach who wins.”
Former Juventus team-mate Angelo Di Livio added further credibility to the rumours by confirming that Roma have indeed held talks with Deschamps, and that the Frenchman is open to a return to Serie A.
“Didier has been in contact with the new leaders at the Giallorossi and he would be available to drive Roma next season,” Di Livio told Tele Radio Stereo.
“He would be keen to return to Italy, in Rome.”
Deschamps has led l’OM to second place in Ligue 1 in 2010-11, as well as to victory in the French League Cup.