Joey Barton has not been in Marseille for two months and is yet to play a domestic match for the Ligue 1 club, but he courted controversy in a friendly against Istres earlier today.
The on-loan Queens Park Rangers midfielder executed a strong challenge on Istres' Guy-Roland Niangbo during a the Tuesday match, much to the dismay of his victim and his victim's team-mates.
Barton lunges in on Niangbo
Niangbo's team-mates angrily confronted the Liverpudlian, who was more than willing to have his say following the flashpoint at the Robert Louis-Dreyfus La commanderie training centre in Marseille.
Barton has his say as Niangbo reels in agony
Barton has only made two appearances for the 1993 Champions League winners as he serves out his 12-match suspension imposed by the Football Association across the Channel.
The 30-year-old has featured in Marseille's two Europa League games against Fenerbahçe and AEL Limassol.