Marseille's Garcia dismisses Strootman reunion rumours
Kevin Strootman is highly unlikely to swap Roma for Marseille, according to Rudi Garcia.
Marseille head coach Rudi Garcia has quashed speculation linking him with a move for Kevin Strootman and insists the club hope to keep hold of Lassana Diarra.
Strootman played under Garcia at Roma from 2013 until the coach's departure in January, a period in which the Netherlands international struggled with a long-running knee injury.
Garcia, who guided Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2010-11, remains an admirer of the 26-year-old, but dismissed any chance of the midfielder following him to Stade Velodrome.
"Strootman is a fantastic man beyond being a fantastic player, of course I would welcome him with open arms, but he will stay in Rome," he told Telefoot.
Marseille are also rumoured to be facing a battle to keep former Arsenal and Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra, who has been tipped for a move away in the January transfer window.
"It is logical that he wants to play for an ambitious club," Garcia said.
"[But] what we want, precisely, is to fulfil that ambition here."
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