The OM–Newcastle poster this Tuesday in the Champions League will be full of emotions for a man who knows both clubs inside out: Joey Barton. Former Magpie who became a player for Olympique de Marseille for a memorable season, the Englishman sees this duel as more than just a European opposition. As the two teams prepare to meet, a question animates the networks: towards which side is Barton leaning today, a still discussed but still fascinating figure in British football?
A tumultuous past in England
You have to go back to his Newcastle years to understand the depth of the contrast. Between 2007 and 2011, Barton experienced all the most paradoxical things football can offer: pure talent, solid performances, but also disciplinary excesses, repeated conflicts with management and even a prison sentence. His departure will go down as one of the bitterest of his career, summed up in a famous tweet where he describes himself as “persona non grata” within the club. He would later admit that this rupture was also linked to mercenary choices, assuming a broken relationship with the leaders and a lasting fracture with the institution.
In Marseille, the scenario was radically different. Loaned by QPR in 2012-2013, Barton only played one season there but discovered an atmosphere that marked his sporting life. He was instantly welcomed by the supporters and quickly felt at home, to the point of saying that OM was “close to his heart”. He often explained that Marseille fans had perceived a form of authenticity and character in him, where England only offered him permanent judgment and media turbulence.
Barton has a timeless connection with Marseille
This bond has never faded. Barton continued to follow OM after his departure, went to the Vélodrome several times incognito, and even sat among the supporters to experience certain European matches. Seeing him in the stands, smiling and vibrating like a true fan, confirmed what his words already suggested: his Marseille adventure was not a simple passage, but a real emotional connection.
Facing Newcastle, Barton no longer hides: his heart is Marseille. There was no comparable gesture towards the Magpies, no nostalgic return to St James’ Park, no message of love for his former English club. This Tuesday, he will obviously not play this match, but he will be one of the symbols. The man who found footballing redemption in Marseille has chosen his camp, and it is unequivocal: that of the Vélodrome.
