Marseille president Pablo Longoria provides transfer update

In a press conference, the president of Olympique de Marseille, Pablo Longoria, provided an update on the team’s aims in the transfer window concerning their targets and the future of their players. 

There has been a lot of speculation over how Marseille would approach January as the club is currently undergoing a squad selection crisis due to mounting injuries and absences because of the Africa Cup of Nations. 

However, only one player has come through the doors of the club, with Jean Onana (24) arriving on loan from Beşiktaş on Monday. Despite this, the president has stated today, in a transcription provided by RMC Sport, that he ‘remain[s] positive. We are working on different possibilities, in particular on the left-back position with a player who can play in a system with four or five at the back.’

The president further clarified that the club were not looking to reinforce the squad because of the AFCON. ‘Seeking to strengthen for a month (while the competition takes place)? We do not consider that to be our strategy.’ 

Longoria talks transfer outgoings in Marseille 

Longoria also looked to respond to the transfer rumours surrounding the squad and add some clarity to the futures of certain players within the team. Azzedine Ounahi (23), for one, has attracted a lot of interest in this window, with Premier League outfit, Brentford, reportedly tempted by the creative player. 

The president provided some information on the reports, ‘he is not a player for sale… on the contrary, he is a player who gave very good performances in the last weeks of the league. We are very happy with him.’ 

Unlike, the Moroccan international, Pape Gueye (24) will be allowed to leave this window. ‘He is a player who will reach the end of his contract at the end of the season. We proposed extension offers this season… the player did not follow up.’ Longoria continued, ‘The player is on the market, we are looking for the best solution for all parties.’ 

Longoria was less clear on the status of the future of record-singing Vitinha (23), who joined last January from Braga for €32 million. The striker has struggled to settle into his new environment, ‘it’s up to the player to look for continuity. We are happy with his daily work. But it’s true that he must find continuity in his match performance.’ Before concluding, ‘It’s up to everyone to try to impose themselves. But his situation is not that of Pape Gueye.’ 

GFFN | Nick Hartland