Abou Diaby apparently rejected the chance to join Liverpool before signing for Marseille this week.
The midfielder sealed his return to France on Wednesday following his release by Arsenal last month.
The 29-year-old spent nearly 10 injury-ravaged years with the Gunners and was offered the chance to stay in the Premier League by West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis.
French newspaper L’Equipe claim that Liverpool also approached Diaby with a ‘pay-as-you-play’ deal, but he had already decided upon returning home for a fresh start.
Diaby is quoted by the Daily Express as saying: “We can call this a new start in my career.
“I haven’t played in two years, and featured in very few matches over the past four years, but I’m here to get back to my best level. I totally understand (people’s) skepticism.”
Diaby made 182 appearances for Arsenal after joining from Auxerre in January 2006, but only two over the course of the last two seasons.
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