‘I am 300% for this club’ – Jonathan Clauss affirms Marseille commitment

Jonathan Clauss (31) has reaffirmed his commitment to Olympique de Marseille after his attitude was called into question by the club’s management. 

The France international was surprisingly put on the market late in the January transfer window, with the club’s hierarchy questioning his commitment. In a controversial interview with Canal Plus in February, OM sporting director Medhi Benatia criticised Clauss’ behaviour. “I arrived in the month of November and I was warned about two or three players, whose behaviour was sometimes a bit borderline. Jonathan Clauss was one of those players,” he said. 

Those comments drew criticism from the players’ union, who accused Benatia of bullying Clauss. However, the former RC Lens defender has said that he has never doubted his commitment to Les Phocéens, even when he was placed on the transfer list.

“[A transfer] didn’t cross my mind. I’m blossoming at OM. I give everything for this club. I am 300% for this club,” he began in an interview in Téléfoot, before revealing that the tensions with the club’s executives have since been eased. “Everything has calmed down, at least on my side in any case. They had things to say. I listened to them. I am aware of the situation. For me, there wasn’t a problem and there still isn’t on,” he said. 

Clauss will be looking to finish the season strongly with Marseille, guide the club towards a European qualification and deep into the UEFA Europa League, before booking his place on the plane to Germany this summer.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle