Heinze to join l'OM

Real veteran to return to Ligue 1

Last updated: 30th July 2009  

Heinze to join l'OM

Heinze: Set for medical

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Gabriel Heinze will sign a three-year contract with Marseille after a fee was agreed with Real Madrid.

The former Manchester United ace had been expected to leave Real this summer following the arrivals of Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa.

L'OM have now struck an accord with the 31-year-old ex-PSG defender, who will seal his Ligue 1 return upon passing a routine medical.

Should Heinze sign for Marseille he would become manager Didier Deschamps' 10th signing during the summer transfer window.

Injury blow

Meanwhile, the club have received bad news after it was confirmed recent capture Lucho Gonzalez broke his collarbone in Wednesday's 1-0 friendly win over St Etienne.

The former Porto man, who is the club's most expensive close-season signing, will be out of action until the start of September.

"It is a hard blow first of all for the player, because he is clearly someone who has a lot of desire and is important," lamented Deschamps.

"The most important thing is that he can heal well without losing ground physically, so he can be ready as early as possible."

New venue

The club have confirmed their first home match of the new Ligue 1 season will not be played at the Stade Velodrome.

An inquiry has been launched as a result of an incident that took place on July 16, when part of a roof of a stage built at the stadium for a Madonna concert collapsed, killing two workers.

The inquiry will not be completed by the time l'OM are scheduled to play Lille on August 16, the second weekend of the championship.

The match will now take place at Montpellier's Stade de la Mosson.

Click Here for Your Free Bet