Marseille owner puts club up for sale

MARSEILLE - The owner of struggling French giants Marseille, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, has put the Ligue 1 club up for sale, she announced in a statement addressed to BFM TV on Wednesday.

"I understand the frustration of not seeing OM being able to be competitive at this level and I'm informing you that I took the decision to give up the club to the best investor possible for the long term," Louis-Dreyfus said in the statement, having owned the club along with her late husband Robert since 1996.

"The moment a buyer is chosen, I will inform the mayor and the supporters about it," she said.

"The price isn't my primary concern. However, the ability of the new shareholder to build a team that wins at the highest level is essential. I've asked my team of advisers to take care of it."

The 10-time French champions have struggled desperately this season and sit in 14th place, just six points above the relegation zone, with five games remaining.

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