Wesley Fofana has revealed that he contemplated leaving Chelsea during the summer transfer window.
Fofana, 23, has played 90 minutes in all three of the Blues Premier League matches, so far, this season.
The Frenchman has become key to new boss Enzo Maresca's defence after recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for the totality of the 2023-24 campaign.
But the centre-back has admitted that he thought about leaving Stamford Bridge amid interest from his hometown club, Marseille.
'I had a conversation [this summer] that really touched me,' Fofana told Free Foot. 'I would be lying if I said I didn't weigh it up. It was from [Mehdi] Benatia, Marseille's sporting director.'
Wesley Fofana has admitted to wrestling with the pospect of leaving Chelsea in the summer
Marseille's sporting director Mehdi Benatia approached Fofana about joining the French club
The Frenchman was born in Marseille in 2000 and began his youth career at a small club on the outskirts of the city, Repos Vitrolles.
Despite growing up near the once-Champions League winners, Fofana has never pulled on a Marseille strip. And while he thought about doing so briefly, he turned down the offer to continue in west London.
'It touched me and I think everyone knows why,' he added. 'I thought about it but there you go, the current objective is to succeed at Chelsea, to try and play regularly, and to establish myself at my club.'
Even though Fofana decided to keep faith in the Blues, and stay put in the English capital, he has not ruled out a move back to his homeland in the future.
'But OM, we'll see one day. I still have a contract until 2029 and we'll see after that. I have never hidden it, [Marseille] is my city, my club, I am an OM supporter.
'We'll see if I end up being at Marseille in a few years, or if I stay at Chelsea for the rest of my career'
Fofana has completed 90 minutes in all three of Chelsea's Premier League matches this season
The 23-year-old wants to 'succeed at Chelsea' under the stewardship of new boss Maresca
The approach from the French club came during the same summer of Fofana's fallout with team-mate Enzo Fernandez.
The Argentine midfielder posted a video following his country's triumph at Copa America which displayed him singing a chant directed at France's black players.
The song in question, which sets apart Kylian Mbappe, caused the French Football Federation to file a complaint to FIFA, while they also condemned it.
At the time, Fofana responded to the video on social media app X with the caption: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism', and then proceeded to unfollow Fernandez on Instagram.
However, in the aftermath, the Blues defender insisted that the midfielder was not racist and just needed educating on why the song was hurtful.
Speaking during pre-season in July, Fofana said: ‘We talked together. I explained why I didn’t like the video. He explained. He said sorry because he did not want to hurt French fans or anyone. He did not understand when singing it.
Fofana reposted the video via X alongside the words: 'Football in 2024: uninhibited racism'
Fofana has since stated that Enzo Fernandez is not racist and that he just needs educating
'And I trust him. Because I know him. I know Enzo. He is not racist. It is just the video is bad. It’s not only Enzo. It’s the Argentinian team. Enzo is in the video but if he was from another country, I would have posted the same thing. For sure, it was a big story because we play in the same team.
'But now it is done, it’s good. I'm happy with this situation because he understands me, I understand him, he said sorry, I trust him, and that is the most important thing. Enzo is a big player in Argentina. I hope this has educated him a bit, because for sure, it is a different culture.'