Football: Marseilles end Ravanelli's Boro misery

Fabrizio Ravanelli last night put the misery of Middlesbrough behind him and headed south, beyond London and on to Marseilles, who have rescued him from the Nationwide First Division for a fee of pounds 5.35m.

Everton had long since expressed an interest in buying the Italian striker, but talks broke down, and Tottenham had emerged this week as apparent favourites to sign him, but only on loan. In the event, the French club's fee satisfied Middlesbrough and the offer of a four-year, pounds 25,000-a-week deal proved acceptable to the 28-year-old, who was reportedly on pounds 43,000 a week at the Riverside Stadium.

It was his failure to agree personal terms that apparently undermined the transfer to Everton.

After clinching the deal in a meeting with Marseilles' chairman, Louis Dreyfuss, in London, Ravanelli said: "I found the goals at Middlesbrough but I could not find the good fortune I wanted. I hope that France will smile more on me," he said.

Marseilles' coach, Rolland Courbis, was delighted with the coup. "His signing is something great for Olympique Marseille, for the town and also for French football," he said.

The manager Ravanelli is leaving behind, Bryan Robson, was pleased with the arrangement, too. "I'm happy a deal has finally been completed because Fabrizio was obviously wanting to play at a higher level," he said. "The publicity surrounding the club was all around Ravanelli. The rest of the lads can now concentrate on the job in hand.

"We would have considered a loan deal with Spurs that would have put Ravanelli in the window but it is more pleasing that the saga has ended with Ravanelli joining Marseilles."