De Zerbi vs Benatia: behind the scenes of the conflict at OM!

Europe 27 April 2025 at 11:17

Mohamed Rek

News Editor

French media reports have revealed tensions within Olympique de Marseille, between Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi and Moroccan sporting director Mehdi Benatia.

According to the daily L'Équipe, the relationship between De Zerbi and Benatia has recently been marked by difficulties, with clear disagreements between the two men.

Among the main points of friction are the management of players Mason Greenwood and Luis Henrique, who have been kept on the bench repeatedly due to their disappointing performances, creating tensions within the team.

Other divergences have emerged, particularly regarding the number of rest days granted to players between matches, as well as criticisms surrounding the last winter transfer window, accompanied by media leaks that have irritated the club's management.

The newspaper also noted that De Zerbi was not comfortable with some of Mehdi Benatia's associates, which has further widened the gap between the two parties.

Pablo Longoria seeks to ease tensions between De Zerbi and Benatia

Despite these elements suggesting tensions, the president of Olympique de Marseille, Pablo Longoria, has attempted to calm the situation, insisting on the strength of the relationships among the different parties. In this context, he stated during an interview on RMC radio: "The relationship has not deteriorated. These attempts at disunion, fueled by ill-intentioned people, irritate me."

He added: "The relationship with the 'Mister' remains very healthy, with exchanges, discussions, sometimes differing visions that we share, but never deep disagreements or conflicts."

He continued: "Roberto is committed to his mission and works hard, with passion, method, and rigor. We are very happy, with Medhi, that this initiative reflects the unity of our work. We decide together, and we move forward together."

He concluded: "There is no problem with the coach. That's the reality. We move forward, and we wash our dirty laundry in-house if necessary."

Finally, he added: "I like the coach because he is a perfectionist, passionate, demanding, and we all know how to challenge ourselves when the situation requires it."

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