Football: BARTHEZ ESCAPES IN 'JOKER' MOVE.

Byline: ALAN NIXON

FABIEN Barthez's Manchester United nightmare is ending with a move to Marseille - and the deal shows how desperate he is to get away from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Barthez has agreed to join the French giants on loan but he cannot play in the Champions League and may not even be in the first team for domestic matches.

The French number one is so keen to get out of Old Trafford - where he is third choice and does not even get a game for the reserves - that he took the chance to be Marseille's number two. The French club have an injury crisis and have been given special permission to sign Barthez as a 'joker' outside the transfer windows.

But the deal has been done too late for him to be eligible for Champions League matches this year.

While it will be an emotional return for Barthez to the club he left 10 years ago he is not guaranteed a game.

French World Cup winner Barthez has not played a competitive game for United since the 4-3 home win over Real Madrid in last season's Champions League quarter-final, when he was blamed for two of the goals. Barthez's fall from grace at United was quick and in the summer Ferguson bought American Tim Howard and made him his new number one.

Howard has been impressive this season while Barthez has slipped out of the picture completely, rarely even making it onto the bench.

Barthez has remained France's first-choice keeper though, and won his 63rd cap in Saturday's 3-0 win over Israel.

Marseille president Christophe Bouche said: "It was in everybody's interest.

"It is necessary for us to have more than one great keeper. It was in Fabien's interest because he will be able to prepare for Euro 2004 and play. It was in United's interest because he was no longer playing.''

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DOWN - AND OUT OF OLD TRAFFORD: Fabien Barthez is off to Marseille after falling out with Fergie