Ndiaye, yang kini juga sedang berlaga di Piala Dunia bersama Senegal, sempat menyatakan membuka peluang untuk kembali ke Marseille di masa depan.

"At a club like [Marseille], you have to perform very quickly," kata Ndiaye saat diwawancarai Foot Mercato mengenai kesulitannya pada masa lalu.

Ndiaye mengakui dirinya sempat kesulitan karena kurangnya pengalaman di level tertinggi setelah hanya bermain satu musim di divisi dua Inggris sebelum bergabung dengan Marseille.

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"I struggled; I won’t deny it, but, contrary to what was being said, I didn’t put too much pressure on myself," ujar Ndiaye.

Pihak manajemen Marseille saat itu tidak menahan kepergiannya ketika Everton datang mengajukan penawaran transfer.

"The reality is that I didn’t really go through a youth academy, and I’d only had one professional season in the English second tier, so there were still gaps in my game for a top French club that has to be among the best.

I lacked a bit of experience at the highest level," ucap Ndiaye.

Ia meyakini bahwa kisahnya dengan klub asal Prancis tersebut masih belum sepenuhnya berakhir.

"I would have liked a second season at Marseille to show my progress. When we discussed Everton’s interest with the club’s management, nobody wanted to keep me.

At least it was clear…" kata Ndiaye.

Ndiaye saat ini masih terikat kontrak selama tiga tahun di Everton dengan nilai pasar mencapai 55 juta euro.

"It’s certain that if I’d arrived two years later, with two Premier League seasons under my belt, I’m sure the story would have turned out very differently at OM," ujar Ndiaye.

Pihak Everton diperkirakan akan meminta nilai transfer yang lebih tinggi jika klub-klub peminat ingin memboyong sang penyerang musim panas ini.

"I’m a believer and I think what happened was meant to happen," kata Ndiaye.

Proses negosiasi transfer para pemain ini diperkirakan akan semakin intensif setelah gelaran Piala Dunia 2026 berakhir.

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"Perhaps that season in Marseille even helped me in the long run. And I’m certain the story isn’t over at all with Marseille," tutur Ndiaye menutup sesi wawancara.