It has become Pablo Longoria’s trademark. Like every summer, the transfer market was very hectic at Olympique de Marseille. Determined to strengthen the Olympian squad with a view to the Champions League, the Marseille president and Medhi Benatia, the club’s sporting director, have increased the number of arrivals.
Benjamin Pavard, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Igor Paixao, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson, Arthur Vermeeren, Matt O’Riley, Facundo Medina, Timothy Weah, Angel Gomes, CJ Egan-Riley and Hamed Traoré: in total, no less than twelve new players arrived in Marseille this summer, the Ciel et Blanc sometimes not hesitating to break the bank as evidenced by the 30 million euros invested to attract Igor Paixao, who became the most successful player in the club’s history.
But the Olympian leaders saw even bigger things. By Medhi Benatia’s own admission, OM did indeed try to attract some big names, first and foremost Kevin de Bruyne, left free by Manchester City. “ I spoke with Kevin De Bruyne but he was already advanced with Napoli. I wanted to meet him. I told myself that it could match with the coach “, he explained at the microphone of RMC this Tuesday.
“I tried Wesley Fofana”
And the Red Devils playmaker was not the only big name approached by OM this summer. If he did not try to enlist Antoine Griezmann, “ I knew he was going to extend with Atlético Madrid », Medhi Benatia on the other hand approached Wesley Fofana. “ I tried Wesley Fofana who is from Marseille. I wondered if the Marseille context could fit. I tried two, three free players”he revealed.
It should be the same next summer and in the meantime, Medhi Benatia has a few issues to settle before then, first and foremost, that of Arthur Vermeeren, on loan from Leipzig. “ The idea of the athlete, when I say sportsman, of the boss Pablo, of the coach, of myself, is to continue with him,” he confided about it, adding: “It will depend on him too. But if he likes the project here, and I think he does, and he wants to have fun with a great team and take charge, why not even more. He will be welcome because he is a very good player. »
