Marseille have been plunged deeper into crisis after their director of football Medhi Benatia announced his resignation.
The news comes just five days after manager Roberto De Zerbi departed the French side following a chaotic period for the club.
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.
And, less than 24 hours after that clash, Benatia announced on social media that he had resigned from his position.
In a lengthy statement addressing Marseille’s fans, he said: ‘Since arriving at the club, I have always acted with heart and a single obsession: to restore Olympique de Marseille to its rightful place. I know this club, I know what it demands and the passion that drives it.
Marseille director of football Mehdi Benatia has resigned from his role with immediate effect
Benatia’s exit comes just five days after manager Roberto De Zerbi departed the French club
‘Today, we are still in the running. The objective of qualifying for the Champions League is clearly within our reach, and we are still in contention to bring the Coupe de France home.
‘Despite recent setbacks and some cruel twists of fate, the project is progressing on the pitch, but I cannot ignore the current climate. I sense a growing dissatisfaction, a breakdown in communication that I deeply regret. In Marseille, results are the only true measure.
‘You know my frankness and transparency. Therefore, given the tensions surrounding the management, I have indeed submitted (not offered) my resignation, because in my opinion, the club will always come before individuals, and I do not want my presence to become an obstacle or a burden to the organisation and its development.’
Benatia 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’.
The 38-year-old, who began his career at Marseille but never made an appearance, was appointed as sporting director in September 2023.
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.
Benatia 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.
Recent reports claimed that Benatia had fallen out with Marseille star Mason Greenwood
Benatia was also thought to have been angry that Greenwood shirked a commercial responsibility last summer with little concerns 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.
Marseille chiefs and De Zerbi held late-night talks at his house in the days following the chastening defeat by Luis Enrique’s side and it was decided it was best for him to leave after less than two years in charge, according to the publication.
Citing a ‘close friend’ of the former Brighton boss, the outlet said De Zerbi knew his time in France was over ‘on the evening of the match in Paris’, after which he had ‘no answers’ and ‘did not understand his team’.
It had been claimed he was ‘devastated’ at the attitude of his players following the club’s dismal elimination at the first stage of the Champions League, which came after they lost 3-0 at Club Brugge on the final matchday.
De Zerbi has been linked with the Manchester United job, with the club looking to appoint a new head coach in the summer.
He was interviewed by Ineos in May 2024 and considered a leading contender to replace Erik ten Hag before the appointment of Ruben Amorim.
De Zerbi, who guided Marseille to automatic Champions League qualification in his first season in charge, is believed to be keen on a return to the Premier League.
