Pedretti reveals Marseille move
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Article summary
Olympique de Marseille will sign FC Sochaux Montbéliard midfielder Benoît Pedretti after the UEFA Cup final.
Article body
First transfer
Pedretti, who helped Sochaux win this season's French League Cup, had penned a new contract until 2006 last November, but has decided to leave the club where he has spent his entire career. "I have agreed to join Marseille," the 23-year-old said. "I chose Marseille because of the 60,000 crowds who fill their stadium. I looked forward to playing there once a season - now every home game will be like that. It's time for me to step up to another level."
Four-year contract
The leading two sides in Ligue 1 this season, Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain FC, had expressed an interest in Pedretti, but the player said: "Marseille is the choice of my heart." Marseille president Christophe Bouchet said that Pedretti, who is expected to be in France's UEFA EURO 2004™ squad, will sign "a four-year contract".
UEFA Cup final
Marseille will play Valencia CF in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final at Gothenburg's Ullevi stadium. Last week the Vélodrome club signed on-loan duo Demetrius Ferreira and Sergio Contreras Pardo 'Koke' on permanent two-year deals.
