The rollercoaster of a campaign unravelling at Marseille has taken yet another unexpected turn, as sporting director Mehdi Benatia has made a U-turn on his decision to resign from the club.
Benatia, 38, announced his resignation from the French side on Sunday evening, just five days after manager Roberto De Zerbi departed the club following a chaotic period.
In a lengthy on social media statement, he claimed that he could no longer ‘ignore the current climate’ and he felt there had been ‘a breakdown in communication’ at the board level.
However, in a major twist of fate on Tuesday, Marseille owner Frank McCourt revealed that Benatia has changed his mind and will now remain in his position until the end of the season.
The American explained that Benatia will now ‘oversee all sporting activities’ at the Ligue 1 side, with club president Pablo Longoria transitioning into a new role.
In a statement shared by McCourt, he explained that Longoria, who has been club president since 2021, will now take on ‘institutional responsibilities, in order to maintain the representation of Olympique de Marseille within French and particularly European bodies’.
Mehdi Benatia will now stay as Marseille sporting director just two days on from his resignation
American owner Frank McCourt has revealed that Benatia will now ‘oversee all sporting activities’
An era of change is truly underway at the top of the club, following the sacking of De Zerbi.
Having been knocked out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion, Marseille were thrashed 5-0 by PSG last Sunday to leave them 12 points off the Parisians at the top of Ligue 1.
That defeat proved to be the final straw for De Zerbi, yet things didn’t get much better on Saturday as they were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Strasbourg after conceding a 97th-minute equaliser.
This is where the drama took another twist, as less than 24 hours after the disappointing, Benatia announced on social media that he had left his position.
Benatia, who took up his position in September 2023, previously revealed he had actually resigned on Monday, before he added: ‘I leave with the feeling of having done my utmost professionally, but with the regret of not having been able to calm the atmosphere around the team, which, in my opinion, is more than capable of achieving the set objectives.’
He concluded by urging Marseille fans to continue to support the team, before adding that he ‘will take the time to explain my decision when the time is right’.
While their season has been falling apart in recent weeks, Marseille remain in the Coupe de France and will face Toulouse in the quarter-finals at the beginning of next month.
This is something that McCourt wants to focus on in the short term, with the club languishing in fourth in Ligue 1.
Roberto De Zerbi departed the French club just last week after a heavy defeat to PSG
His statement read: ‘As the owner of the club, I am coming to Marseille and once again taking on my responsibilities so that the club remains focused on its objectives, particularly qualification for the next Champions League and a strong run in the Coupe de France.
‘Under the supervision of Mehdi Benatia, the appointment of a new coach will be announced shortly. My ambition for the club remains intact. Let us mobilise in the service of OM.’
Benatia had recently been in the news when it was reported that he had fallen out with Marseille star Mason Greenwood, who was regularly publicly praised by De Zerbi.
The retired Moroccan international and the former Man United winger were said to openly ignore one another whenever they crossed paths, with the sporting director often a vocal critic of the 24-year-old both on and off the pitch, according to L’Equipe.
Benatia was also thought to have been angry that Greenwood shirked a commercial responsibility last summer with little concern for the repercussions.
De Zerbi, however, publicly backed Greenwood, claiming his player has become ‘world-class’ after building on ‘what his mother and father taught him’.
Meanwhile, reports in France surrounding De Zerbi’s departure suggested that his relationship with his players had become strained.
RMC Sport also reported that De Zerbi and club bosses came to the conclusion that his position had become untenable shortly after the mauling at the hands of PSG.
Recent reports claimed that Benatia had fallen out with Marseille star Mason Greenwood
Marseille chiefs and De Zerbi held late-night talks at his house in the days following the chastening defeat by Luis Enrique’s side.
It was decided it was best for him to leave after less than two years in charge, according to the publication.
Reports suggest that McCourt is set to appoint former Marseille and Newcastle defender Habib Beye as De Zerbi’s successor.
