Premier League target Andre Ayew will leave Marseille reluctantly after accepting the cash-strapped Ligue 1 side must let him go.
Ayew, 25, joined Marseille as a 15-year-old, following in the footsteps of his father, Abedi Pele. Out of contract in the summer, he will bid farewell to the Stade Velodrome after Saturday's final league game of the season against Bastia.
Victory for Marseille could see them move ahead of Monaco and into third, thereby qualifying for the Champions League, if the principality club fail to win their final game at Lorient.
Ayew he would have stayed at OM, regardless of whether they are playing Champions League football next season, but knows he must leave after talks over the club's delicate financial situation with president Vincent Labrune.
"In all honesty, it was a very difficult decision to take," Ayew said, ahead of playing his 160th and final Ligue 1 game for the club at the weekend. "In recent days, we have talked a lot, we have tried to find solutions, because the president wanted me to stay, and I too wanted to continue the adventure with OM, so we tried to talk about it.
"But I understood that next year, we aren't certain to have the experienced players to challenge for the title or push PSG and Monaco. We have very good players with huge potential, but it's true that for the moment, they're still players who are learning, and to win the league, you need a lot more experience.
"With Marseille's current finances, it's difficult to bring in that kind of player, and even to stay here with the same salary was difficult for the club. The president really tried to do everything for me to stay, but it was more complicated than that."
Linked to a host of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as Serie A outfit Roma, Ayew is likely to be spoiled for choice when it comes to where he wants to play his football next season.
The Ghana international, who reportedly , acknowledged England and Italy are his most probable destinations.
When asked if he already knew where he was going, he said: "Not at all. I prefer the English league, but I also really like the Italian league."
Though Champions League qualification is tantalisingly close, OM might be better to suited to a Europa League campaign given Ayew is likely to be joined by leading goal-scorer Andre-Pierre Gignac, who is also out of contract, and perhaps even goalkeeper and captain Steve Mandanda in leaving the club.
Marseille legend Jean-Pierre Papin, who formed a potent attacking trio with Ayew's father and Chris Waddle at OM in the early 90's, the forward's departure was symptomatic of the club's lack of forward planning.
"He is a symbol of OM's big problem: not being able to keep their players," the former France international striker said. "When you're trying to build a great team, they're the kind of elements you need to have a solid platform.
"When the club's policy is not based on bringing through youngsters from the academy, there aren't 50 solutions, because there aren't the youngsters capable of strengthening the squad, bar one or two exceptions.
"If you're doing well and you can't keep them or sell them, you can't build a great team if the owner doesn't want to put money in."
Use a to add a comment, subject to Facebook's and Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on ESPN's media platforms.