Club president announces intent to sell Marseille's Rabiot and Rowe following alleged fiercely aggressive altercation.
Marseille in Crisis After Dressing Room Incident
Olympique de Marseille finds itself in the midst of a full-blown crisis following an incident in the dressing room after their opening game of the French Ligue 1 season. The altercation, reported as being beyond any limits, violent, aggressive, and without rules, has caused a stir in the world of football.
Marseille President, 39-year-old Spaniard Jacques-Henri Eyraud (Longoria), who took over the club in 2021, was not present in the dressing room but was informed about the incident by the staff. Longoria has insisted that the decision to put Adrien Rabiot up for sale is non-negotiable and is aimed at protecting the club as an institution.
Rabiot, a French international with 53 caps, joined Marseille last season as a free agent from Juventus. Despite having an outstanding first campaign at the Velodrome, Marseille have not been able to persuade him to extend his contract, which expires at the end of this season. The decision to put Rabiot up for sale was not related to his contractual situation, according to Longoria.
The incident occurred after Marseille's 1-0 defeat away to Rennes. The team played for an hour with an extra man, but it was not enough to secure a win. The club's statement described the players' behavior as "unacceptable".
England Under-21 international winger Jonathan Rowe, who joined Marseille permanently from Norwich City this summer after a loan spell last season, was also involved in the altercation.
Coach Roberto De Zerbi initially hinted at a possible return for Rabiot after his teammates advocated for him. However, the club's stance remains firm, and Rabiot is currently listed for sale.
Marseille, who had ambitions of pushing champions Paris Saint-Germain under Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi this season, are now facing a challenging time. The club's president, coach, and sporting director - Longoria, De Zerbi, and Medhi Benatia respectively - all have extensive experience in football, with Longoria starting out in professional football 20 years ago.
The incident has cast a shadow over Marseille's second game of the Ligue 1 season, which will be at home to newly-promoted Paris FC on Saturday. Longoria has stated that he will not preside over a club where there are no rules, and he considers Marseille as the victims in this situation, as a fight like this is unheard of in the world of football.
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