Roberto De Zerbi denies exit talks after Marseille’s Champions League collapse

Olympique de Marseille’s Champions League campaign ended in humiliation on Wednesday night, a 3–0 defeat in Bruges sealing their elimination at the league phase and casting a long shadow over the rest of the season. In the aftermath, attention swiftly turned to Roberto De Zerbi — and to rumours that the Italian coach had asked to leave the club.

Late on Thursday evening, De Zerbi firmly denied those claims when contacted by L’Équipe, rejecting reports that he had requested an exit from Marseille.

The story had gathered pace after an unusual 24 hours. Following the defeat in Belgium, De Zerbi adopted a low profile, offering no fiery post-match intervention. Inside the dressing room, he behaved as he often does after painful losses: no dramatic speech, no attempt to deflect blame, before leaving the stadium with members of his staff rather than rejoining the group.

When he failed to appear at Thursday’s training session at Clairefontaine, speculation intensified. The club initially cited illness, and internally, the absence caused little surprise — De Zerbi has previously taken similar distance during turbulent moments, notably after a defeat at Reims last season.

But at around 10pm, Foot Mercato reported that the coach had asked to quit. Contacted directly, De Zerbi dismissed the claim without ambiguity.

Those close to the squad describe a familiar pattern to L’Équipe. “When he’s angry, he withdraws,” one source explained. After Bruges, there was plenty to be angry about.

GFFN | George Boxall