It was an intriguing narrative. Though a product of Marseille’s youth academy, Medhi Benatia never featured for the senior team. He returned in 2023 with the ambition of building a formidable project. However, his stint as sporting director proved brief, concluding just months after the departures of Roberto De Zerbi and Pablo Longoria, following what was widely considered a disastrous season for OM.

Benatia’s continued involvement with OM

Despite his official departure, whispers persist that Benatia remains actively involved behind the scenes at OM. His focus is reportedly on a major transfer saga: the potential move of Mason Greenwood. The English winger is heavily linked with AS Roma this summer, with an agreement reportedly reached between the player and the Italian club. The crucial hurdle now is securing a deal between the two clubs, a task proving complex as Marseille is said to be demanding a substantial fee of €50 to €55 million for the talented forward.

“I tried to bring him to Marseille, but he was too expensive”

Meanwhile, Medhi Benatia continues to monitor the 2026 World Cup, where a particular player he once coveted for OM is making an impression. This player is Neil El Aynaoui, the Moroccan international who previously played for Nancy and RC Lens, and is now at AS Roma. “He is a very solid player because he combines quality and quantity,” Benatia explained in an interview. He also expressed bewilderment regarding El Aynaoui’s limited playing time at Roma, stating, “I didn’t understand why he played less at Roma than I expected. I had attempted to bring him to Marseille, but he was simply too expensive.“