Stephane Mbia's representative has played down any suggestion that his client is feigning injury.
Cameroonian defender is carrying a knock and is not looking to leave
Marseille defender Stephane Mbia's representative has played down any suggestion that his client is feigning injury.
With interest reported to be growing in the Cameroonian, it has been claimed that the 24-year-old has ruled himself out of action in order to avoid picking up a knock.
Such talk has surfaced after contract talks between Mbia and the Marseille board broke down at the start of the year.
With the reigning Ligue 1 champions refusing to meet the demands laid out in front of them, it is believed that the player now wants out of Stade Velodrome.
His representative insists that is not the case, though, with it in Mbia's interests to carry on playing and put himself in the shop window if he is looking to move on.
"I don't think anybody at Marseille can say Stephane is faking injury," Jean-Charles Vincensini told
L'Equipe.
"He is a professional and always wants to play. It is in his interest to carry on playing. He is just injured.
"Sometimes I think he is the only player in the world that is not allowed to be injured."
International ambition
Meanwhile, Mbia's team-mate Lucho Gonzalez is hoping that his form in France this season will see him earn a recall to the Argentina squad.
The talented playmaker was overlooked by Diego Maradona for the 2010 World Cup, but hopes the door to international football has not been closed for good.
He told
L'Equipe: "I will not give up. I am always available. I will never say that I am hanging up my international boots.
"There are, however, a lot of younger players in the same position as me and the staff have to think logically about the future.
"The 2014 World Cup? That is a long way away. The short-term objective would be to finish this season in the best possible way and make the Copa America on home soil."
