United cancel Barthez's contract

The Old Trafford outfit have revealed that they have agreed to cancel the Frenchman's contract from June 30.

Barthez has been on loan at Marseille since January and he has impressed during his return to the Stade Velodrome helping them to reach the quarter finals of the Uefa Cup. 

Marseille have been keen to turn his loan move into a permanent deal and with the player being available on a free transfer in the summer they are now expected to tie up a deal for the French international.

Barthez's long-term future at United had been in doubt since the start of the season when United boss Sir Alex Ferguson brought in American Tom Howard.

"Fabien signed a six-year deal, but we acquired Tim Howard in the summer and now he and Roy Carroll are in their 20s and so we are set fair in that area," United chief executive David Gill told Sky Sports News.

"Fabien is world class, but he felt he wanted to move and it was in both our interests that we parted on the best of terms like this."

Howard quickly established himself as number one at Old Trafford with Carroll his number two leaving Barthez well down the pecking order.

The 32-year-old was keen to leave United to safeguard his international place and he has admitted he would like to end his career at Marseille.