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Southampton: Saints winger Sofiane Boufal confirms desire to leave St Mary’s

By Marc Walker

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton takes a look around the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on March 10, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton takes a look around the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on March 10, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /
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Southampton winger Sofiane Boufal has confirmed his desire to leave St Mary’s this summer just a day after the Premier League season concluded.

Speaking in an interview with French broadcaster SFR Sport, Boufal spoke about his interest in a return to Ligue 1 in France where he was playing before joining Saints in the summer of 2016.

The Moroccan has been frozen out at Southampton since a dispute with manager Mark Hughes, and was last included in a matchday squad for the team’s 3-2 loss to Chelsea a month ago.

In the interview, he said

"“It’s true that today a return to France interests me a great deal.“A good club in France that plays in Europe of course I would be very, very interested in returning.“It’s a league I know, a language I know. So it’s true, a return to France.“L’Olympique de Marseille remains a very big club. This year they’ve made it to the final of the Europa League.“Of course, L’OM interests me. If they are interested, why not sign for them?”“It’s true that today a return to France interests me a great deal.“A good club in France that plays in Europe of course I would be very, very interested in returning.“It’s a league I know, a language I know. So it’s true, a return to France.“L’Olympique de Marseille remains a very big club. This year they’ve made it to the final of the Europa League.“Of course, L’OM interests me. If they are interested, why not sign for them?”"

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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 03: Sofia Boufal of Southampton during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns on February 3, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 03: Sofia Boufal of Southampton during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns on February 3, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images) /

Saints will see this as a disrespectful move from a man they splashed £16m on. The move also saw him become the club’s record signing and arrive with a big reputation.

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To date, the 24-year-old has scored just four goals and made three assists in 59 appearances on the South Coast.

Inconsistent performances have meant that he hasn’t been able to hit the heights that were expected of him in the Premier League and a move back to France now looks likely.

If Boufal is to move on, Saints fans will remember him for scoring a contender for goal of the season in the home game with West Brom in October. He produced a mazy dribble from the halfway line and matched it with a composed finish.

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