Ghana’s midfield maestro Andre Ayew celebrated his final days with Marseille by being named the best African player in Ligue 1 on Monday.
The 25-year-old – whose contract at the Stade Velodrome expires in the summer – pipped Saint-Etienne’s Ivory Coast international, former Leeds United wingback Max-Alain Gradel, and Monaco’s Tunisian centre-back Aymen Abdennour, to the prestigious title.
Ayew who was a member of the Ghana side that lost to Ivory Coast 9-8 on penalties in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations final – was picked by a jury of journalists and will receive the Marc-Vivien Trophy.
Ayew is the son of arguably Africa’s best ever player, Abidi Pele, and his younger brother Jordan also played at Marseille before leaving for Lorient at the beginning of the season. Andre has attracted interest from several English clubs including Newcastle, Swansea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool, and moved a step closer to a dream move to the Premier League after announcing he would be ending his 10-year stay at the French giants.
“The [Marseille] president has spoken, thus everything has been brought out into the open more or less,” Ayew said, adding: “I am going to leave the club and it is a page turned.
“There are lots of things behind the decision. We tried to find a solution which would enable me to stay but for both parties it was complicated, whether it be for sporting or financial reasons.
“I was expecting more, I hoped the club would have a more competitive team for next year that could be title contenders and that’s not certain.
“Also the club cannot offer me the same salary that I’m on at the moment.”
Ayew has scored 10 goals in 27 appearances this season for the Ligue 1 club
