Medhi Benatia, the former sporting director of Olympique de Marseille, has publicly accused the club’s former president, Pablo Longoria, of dishonesty regarding transfer funds during their shared tenure at the French club. Benatia claims Longoria misled both him and then-manager Roberto De Zerbi about the financial resources available for player acquisitions.
Allegations of Misleading Information
The former Morocco international, who worked alongside Longoria for two seasons, stated that their relationship became strained towards the end of their time at Marseille. Benatia recounted a specific instance where De Zerbi was under the impression that €30 million would be available in January for a new striker.
However, Benatia claims he had to inform De Zerbi that the club actually needed to generate €35 million through player sales. Benatia directly addressed the issue in an interview, stating, “He lied to me anyway. I’ll say it on TV, he lied to me, of course he lied to me!”
Marseille’s Financial Fallout
This alleged misrepresentation of the club’s financial standing reportedly contributed to significant challenges for Olympique de Marseille. The club was subsequently compelled to reduce its wage bill substantially and sell several key players.
The financial pressures ultimately led to a major overhaul at the club, with the manager, sporting director, and president all departing within a few months. Longoria has since moved to South America, where he is now working at River Plate. New directors at Marseille are reportedly working to restore financial stability, with further player sales anticipated in January to meet commitments made to financial oversight bodies like the DNCG and UEFA.