Real's Heinze poised to join Marseille

Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze is poised to join Olympique Marseille from Real Madrid after both clubs reached an agreement, the Ligue 1 club said yesterday.

The 31-year-old was expected in Marseille shortly to undergo a medical and sign his contract, Marseille said on their website.

Heinze joined Real from Manchester United in 2007. He previously played in Ligue 1 with Paris St Germain from 2001 to 2004.

A solid, reliable player, Heinze should form an uncompromising pair of central defenders with Senegal's Souleymane Diawara, who joined Marseille from French champions Girondins Bordeaux earlier this month.

Provided he passes the medical, Heinze will become the second Argentina player to join Marseille during the summer break after midfielder Lucho Gonzalez, who signed from Porto last month.

Gonzalez will be out of action for up to six weeks after fracturing his collarbone in a warm-up match on Wednesday.

Heinze agreed to move to Marseille just a few days after former Spain striker Fernando Morientes, previously with Valencia, joined on a free transfer earlier this week.

Marseille, now coached by 1998 World Cup-winning captain Didier Deschamps, finished runners-up to Bordeaux last season.