Fabien Barthez confirmed on Monday he has left Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes, saying he no longer felt safe there.

The former France goalkeeper, who had a fight with a Nantes fan after a home defeat on Saturday, drove out of the Atlantic port city with his family on Sunday en route to an unknown destination.

"I will not play for Nantes again," Barthez told French radio France Info. "This has got nothing to do with football. I no longer feel safe there and it's better for me to leave."

The 35-year-old goalkeeper had come out of retirement in January to help Nantes in their battle against relegation.

On Saturday, after a 2-0 home defeat by Stade Rennes which means Nantes will almost certainly be relegated for the first time in their history, five drunken fans blocked his car as he was driving out of the Beaujoire stadium.

They kicked the car and banged on the windscreen and one fan tried to open the car door.

Barthez then got out of his car and started trading punches with one of the fans. Security staff moved in to separate them.

Nantes, who have spent a record 44 consecutive years in the top flight, are eight points from safety with four games left.