By Arrival of Coach Roberto De Zerbi Shakes Up Olympique de Marseille: Moroccan International Azzedine Ounahi Among Those Affected
The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi as the new coach at Olympique de Marseille has had significant repercussions for several African players, including Moroccan international Azzedine Ounahi. As OM geared up for a major overhaul this summer, De Zerbi reinforced this movement by identifying a list of players he deems surplus to requirements. Among these players is the 24-year-old Ounahi, who has collected 30 caps and scored 5 goals for his national team.
Initially, Ounahi was considered to be part of the plans of the former Brighton manager, but regional daily La Provence has reported that the ex-Angers midfielder is now available for transfer.
Possible Move to Saudi Arabia?
This development has reopened the door for a potential move to Saudi Arabia, where Al-Ittihad has expressed interest in Ounahi despite his youth. Unlike the general trend in the Arabian Peninsula, which tends to favor more experienced European stars aged thirty and above—like Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is set for a lucrative contract with Al-Qadsiah—Ounahi’s young age sets him apart.
Until a transfer materializes, Ounahi continues to participate fully in training sessions, similar to Central African Geoffrey Kondogbia, who is also reportedly not in De Zerbi’s plans. This inclusion may be due to OM’s limited squad depth in certain playing positions. Contrastingly, Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba and Senegalese winger Ismaïla Sarr are receiving less favorable treatment, participating only in early physical exercises before being sidelined when tactical drills commence.
A total of nine players have been placed on the transfer list by OM:
Geoffrey Kondogbia
Azzedine Ounahi
Samuel Gigot
Pau Lopez
Jordan Veretout
Chancel Mbemba
Ulisses Garcia
Ismaila Sarr
Jonathan Clauss
La Provence has also highlighted that the club has shied away from labeling this situation as creating a “loft” for the unwanted players. De Zerbi addressed the impacted players, sharing that he experienced a similar situation during his playing days at Napoli, recognizing the distressing nature of such an experience but not offering a detailed justification.
Despite the precarious status of these players, the club ensures they receive respectful treatment. They retain their designated spots in the locker room, and the coaching staff remains available to them, seemingly softening their departure from OM.
— Vibes Foot (@VibesFoot) July 15, 2024
