The rumor circulating is indeed significant, suggesting that Mathieu Valbuena, currently under contract with Marseille until 2016, might be leaving the club to join FC Barcelona. The interest in the French international is reported by the daily Sport, which indicates that Andoni Zubizarreta, the sporting director of Barcelona, is considering Valbuena for the team.
As of now, Mathieu Valbuena has resumed training with Marseille and has not provided any official reaction to the rumors. If confirmed, this potential move would be a substantial loss for Marseille and a notable development for the player, marking a significant shift in his career to one of the top clubs in European football.