Marseille boss considers move for Barthez

Marseille boss Alain Perrin has admitted he could be tempted to move for Manchester United misfit Fabien Barthez to solve his goalkeeping crisis.

Barthez, a member of the Marseille team which won the 1993 European Cup during the scandal-tarnished reign of former president Bernard Tapie, is now out of favour at Old Trafford after a series of bungles last year.

For now he remains France coach Jacques Santini’s number one pick, but Santini has said he is keeping the situation of players who do not play regular first-team football under review.

Marseille’s reserve goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso has been ruled out for six months with injured ligaments in his right knee and Perrin needs a replacement.

Perrin admitted he had contemplated a move for Barthez, a key member of France‘s 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides.

“You don’t have to think about things too much to come up with Barthez’s name,” Perrin told L‘Equipe.

“But we will not stop at just a name like that. We must afterwards talk to the clubs they belong to.

“We are going to look widely, there is no age limit, either one way (too old) or the other (too young).”

Perhaps the biggest obstacle would be that Barthez would undoubtedly seek an assurance he would play first-team football, and Marseille’s Croatian shot-stopper Vedran Runje is firmly established at the Stade Velodrome.

“Our priority is to find a number two,” admitted Perrin.

“If Vedran gets injured or suspended we need someone who can play at the top level who has a minimum of experience and can live up to our expectations.

“We will only contact those clubs who are prepared to release their goalkeepers.

“We could also consider a six-month loan during Carrasso’s convalescence.”

Earlier this week, Barthez said he remained a Manchester United player but admitted that situation could change.

“Because I play for one of Europe’s biggest clubs a lot of things can happen,” he said.

“In football at my age everything can happen very quickly. Everything is possible. For the time being I am taking every day as it comes.”

The former Toulouse, Marseille and Monaco custodian, 32, became a hero in France when he was first choice in the World Cup winning-side in 1998.

In the entire tournament, he conceded only two goals – only one in open play - as France won the title with the best defence ever in World Cup history, and was voted the most popular player after playmaker Zinedine Zidane.

His club career exploded with Marseille and he won his first cap for Les Bleus in 1994.