Dithering Valbuena ready to make Russia switch

30 July 2014 12:32

France international playmaker Mathieu Valbuena has finally agreed to leave Marseille for Russian side Dynamo Moscow, French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Wednesday.

Valbuena, 29, has now accepted the offer of a three-year contract worth a reported salary of 10 million euros (£7.9m, $13.4m) per year.

Last week, he had told OM president Vincent Labrune that he had rejected Dynamo's offer, but the about turn will see Dynamo pay a transfer fee of seven million euros plus bonuses to Marseille, the newspaper added.

L'Equipe said that Valbuena had finally agreed to move to the Russian capital, and turn his nose up at interest from English Premier League sides Queen's Park Rangers and West Ham United, after being reassured by France coach Didier Deschamps that the switch would not affect his international career.

Valbuena has won 38 caps for France, including featuring in four games during Les Bleus' run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Brazil.

He joined Marseille in 2006 and helped the south-coast side win the Ligue 1 title in 2010, but OM have been open to offers for Valbuena and other leading players as they look to cut costs after failing to qualify for this season's Champions League.

Dynamo finished fourth in the Russian top flight last season and are due to face Hapoel Kiryat Shmona of Israel in the Europa League third qualifying round, first leg on Thursday.

Source: AFP