Florian Thauvin has said that Marseille manager Franck Passi is "90 percent" of the reason why he chose to return to the club rather than join Lazio.
Having spent the second half of last season on loan at Marseille from Newcastle, Thauvin, 23, agreed another temporary deal last week.
"I had the chance to go to Lazio," the attacking midfielder said in an interview filmed by Marseille.
"But I preferred to come back here because it's a place I know well and a place that's close to my heart.
"I have huge respect for the big club that Lazio is but I think that for the good of my career and my development the best solution for me was to come back to Marseille."
Passi worked closely with Thauvin last season when the 50-year-old stepped up from the role of assistant manager in the wake of Michel's sacking in April.
Passi was then given the job on a permanent basis after leading the club to the Coupe de France final and Thauvin said the new Marseille boss was a major factor in his decision to return to France.
"That was something decisive," Thauvin said.
"If I've come back to Marseille this year, it's 90 percent for Franck Passi. He's a manager that I know very well and a person that I like a lot.
"We know each other for years and we've been working together for a while.
"It's important for me to have the confidence of the coach and to work with someone like Franck."