QPR midfielder Joey Barton has revealed a death threat he received while playing for Olympique Marseille.
The 32-year-old spent almost the entire 2012-13 season in Ligue 1 with the south-coast club, and has posted on Twitter a picture of a vitriolic letter sent to him during his stint across the Channel.
Barton jokingly refers to the letter, written in broken English, as "fan mail".
The letter reads:
"Mr Barton.
"A little friendly advice: as soon as you finish your season in your current club, I advice you to leave France immediately.
"In fact, if you're not left France before June 1st, I will come to you specially Marseille smash your head shots baseball bat. And then I will finish and you'll die a knife open mouth once emptied your blood b*****d.
"Do you understand? You have until June 1st to leave France and return to your country m*****f******.
"Sincerely."
A name and address for the purported sender of the letter is also included on the letter, which is signed.
