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Igor Paixao was heavily linked with a departure from Olympique de Marseille this summer. Desperately needing to sell in order to raise funds and adhere to promises made to UEFA and the DNCG, the Brazilian winger represented one of the most bankable assets in a decimated OM squad. The club’s owner, Frank McCourt, was keen to sell amid strong interest from Sunderland towards the end of the transfer window.
However, whilst talks were advancing, manager Bruno Genesio took a strong stance, insisting that Paixao not be sold, both because of his importance in the squad and because, despite the income, it would still not allow OM to dip into the market themselves. Paixao would, therefore, have gone unreplaced.
As a result, Genesio got his wish. Paixao has remained at the Vélodrome, and as he has now told Brazilian media, **[Band](https://www.band.com.br/esportes/futebol/futebol-internacional/igor-paixao-abre-o-jogo-sobre-sondagens-do-brasil-e-se-declara-ao-flamengo)**. _“I didn’t want to leave. I still don’t want to leave,”_ he began. _“It was a bit intense, with the club putting all of the players on the transfer list. I chose to stay to help my team. We can’t recruit new players; there wouldn’t have been replacements.”_
However, the former Feyenoord player did add that it was ultimately a _“dream”_ to play in the Premier League one day. _“We will have a good season so that next year, other clubs can come and challenge us and we can take it to the next level. Of course,_ (a move) _would be beneficial for the club and for me.”_ The forward also revealed a dream to one day play for Flamengo in his native Brazil.
[GFFN](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/#google_vignette) | Luke Entwistle