‘One way to disrespect the club’ – Marseille president criticises Pape Gueye

The president of Olympique de Marseille, Pablo Longoria, has criticised Pape Gueye (25) for his refusal to respond to the club’s attempts to extend his contract beyond the end of the season. 

The impasse between the player and club looked to worsen on Monday when reports came out stating that Marseille were attempting to force the midfielder into an early exit over fears that he would leave for free at the end of his contract in June. 

However, that turned out only to be the start of this developing saga, as the club president aired his grievances in a press conference. Longoria was not simply annoyed by the rejection of the contract offer but by the fact that Gueye had refused to even respond to their negotiations. 

Leaving Longoria to state, “I must defend the interests of the club. No response is one way to disrespect the club.” Continuing, “We want players who are fully committed to the project. If a player isn’t here mentally, then he has no business being with us.” 

The Senegalese international only returned to the field for Marseille in December following a four-month suspension implemented because of the circumstances surrounding his move from Le Havre to his current club, but will now be unlikely to play for Les Phocéens again as this saga unravels. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland