Algerian international football player Ziani, the target of disparagement French media campaign

Algerian footballer Karim Ziani reckons that his first season with OM Marseille has been terrible and nerve-wracking on all accounts.The Algeria international was one of the most highly rated players in Ligue 1 last season when he helped Sochaux win the French Cup.

But his move to L’OM, a club that have plenty of fans in his country, has proved to be a bad decision as he has not been a regular starter at Le Velodrome and had a fall out with coach Eric Gerets who decided to ban him.

Paris Saint Germain tried to lure him out of Provence back in January, but the playmaker opted to fight for his place in the squad.

“It has been a rubbish season,” he told La Provence . “It is a new test. I would lie if I said it is easy to live. There is such media frenzy around me!

“It was like fresh air when I played the last friendly with my country. It permitted me to forget what previously happened.

“I do not want to speak about that affair, I want to look forward. It was a pain for my family to see my face in the front pages for the wrong reasons. I accepted the club’s decision (to axe him) because they are my employer.

“I feel 100 percent Marseillais. I have a four-year contract and I have always wanted to impose myself at L’OM.

“My objective is to recover my best football at Marseille. If people think that the articles creating bad publicity will make want to leave L’OM, they are wrong,â€Â Ziani pointed out.

Sports commentators suggest that if his row with Marseille is not defused shortly, Karim Ziani will surely opt for another first league outfit in France or in Spain next season.