Iliman Ndiaye openly hints at possible Olympique Marseille return

Iliman Ndiaye’s spell at Olympique Marseille remains one of the biggest what-ifs of his career.

The Senegal international joined the French club in 2023 amid huge expectations and excitement from supporters, but his time at the Stade Velodrome never truly lived up to the promise. After struggling to establish himself and deliver the impact many had anticipated, Ndiaye opted to leave Marseille less than a year later.

Despite moving on, the winger has admitted that his departure is a decision he still looks back on with a sense of regret, leaving the door open to questions about whether his unfinished chapter with the club could one day be revisited.

Now thriving at Everton, Ndiaye has exploded in the Premier League, attracting top European clubs with his standout performances and unique playing style. Yet his premature exit from Marseille remains a bitter memory, as he admitted to France Football before the World Cup.

“The story is not finished,” he stated clearly. “If I had arrived two years later in Marseille, with two Premier League seasons already, I’m sure everything would have turned out very differently. I’m a believer, and I think what happened was meant to happen. Maybe that Marseille season even helped me afterward,” Ndiaye added, openly hinting at a potential return.

“I’m certain the story isn’t at all finished with Olympique Marseille,” he emphasized, a clear signal to the club. While an immediate return seems unlikely given his skyrocketing status at Everton, far beyond his former Marseille profile, the door remains wide open for Les Phoceens.