Marseille bought by American businessman Frank McCourt for bargain price of just £34million

Ligue 1 club Marseille were bought out for a bargain price of £34million by American businessman Frank McCourt on Monday.

McCourt once owned Major League Baseball franchise the Los Angeles Dodgers, who he sold for £1.5billion in 2012.

Frank McCourt (left) met with majority owner Louis-Dreyfus to takeover[/caption]

McCourt told L’Equipe: “I want a club that can challenge for the title every season.”

The American billionaire also said he is willing to spend £40-80m each year to bring in new players and keep the club at the summit of Ligue 1.

Marseille’s mayor, Jean-Claude Gaudin, took to RMC SPORT’s radio microphones last night after the announcement of the takeover by McCourt.

McCourt held a press conference in at the City’s town hall to confirm the news[/caption]

McCourt spoke to French media in Marseille[/caption]

He said: “I am relieved because what I wish the most is Marseille’s success.

“I told him [McCourt] with the clearest manner that money is necessary at the club. I hope he will put a lot [in the club].

“It guarantees the sociable cohesion of the second city of France. And we need that every day.

“What I also like is that the company Louis-Dreyfus [the one that just sold Marseille] is a familial business, and here, it is also the same with Frank McCourt.”

Gaudin reminded everyone live on radio that McCourt’s father helped for the Provence’s (region of southeastern France) liberation in 1944, before calling for ex-players to help the club in its new era.

Marseille mayor (left) was delighted to see McCourt takeover[/caption]

He added: “His father has participated to the liberation of the Provence against the Nazis’ force in 1944.

“He [McCourt] will need to be helped. And the men I have great consideration such as Eric Di Meco, Frank Leboeuf and Christophe Dugarry are capable to come and help Marseille.

“It will be needed. And I will be delighted if Di Meco comes back to work with Marseille – it would be superb.”

Gomis joined Marseille on loan from Swansea and scored against Lorient[/caption]

The three former France international are currently working for RMC SPORT as pundits and it was the perfect occasion to make the call.

This takeover will be finalised by the end of the year and happened because Louis-Dreyfus, the ex-majority owner, wanted to sell for quite some time and only small amount of money was spent, which explains the club’s recent fall down.

Marseille recorded last weekend their first win of the season in a 2-0 win against Lorient at home.