Following the recruitment of Jean Onana, Pablo Longoria confirmed Olympique de Marseille’s ambitions during the winter transfer window this Thursday. The president of the Marseille club has blocked the departure of Azzedine Ounahi, but opened the door to other struggling players in Gennaro Gattuso’s squad.
OM, deprived of many players due to CAN 2024, find themselves at the center of speculation during the winter transfer window. On the sidelines of the presentation of Jean Onana, the first recruit of the month of January, Pablo Longoria wanted to return the truth about some hot questions of recruitment in Marseille.
“I remain positive (about the progress of the transfer window). We are working on different options, especially for the left-back position with a player who can play in a system with four or five at the back,” first assured the President of Marseille this Thursday at a press conference.
“It is now one of the priorities in the club’s research.”
Before clarifying that Marseille is not only looking to strengthen during CAN: “In the middle we wanted to move quickly with a player who knew the championship and create competition. (…) Strive for a moon boost? We consider that this is not our strategy.”
>> Relive the OM press conference with Longoria and Gattuso
A big update for the future of Ounahi
In addition to the arrival of a left-back who will compete and give Renan Lodi some space, OM must also manage interest from other clubs in players in their squad. This is especially true for Azzedine Ounahi. Awarded Gennaro Gattuso, the Moroccan is currently selected for CAN but is not expected to leave this winter. Pablo Longoria remembered it clearly.
“These are completely different situations. Azzedine Ounahi, I have read several rumours, but he is not a player who is for sale or for whom we are looking for something,” the Marseille leader assured. On the contrary, he is a player who performed very well in the last weeks of the competition. We are very satisfied with him.”
Gueye did not “follow up” on the extension
Unlike the Moroccan environment, Pape Gueye will not retain OM in the event of a satisfactory offer. As reported by RMC Sport, the Senegalese is exciting six months before the end of his contract. Pablo Longoria confirmed that this situation and his temporary rejection of an extension made a January exit more than possible.
“For Pape Gueye, he is a player whose contract will expire at the end of the season. This season we proposed an extension of the offer, the second was during the month of December,” the OM president explained afterwards. “The player did not follow up. Six months before the end of the contract, there is of course a possibility that there will be a departure during this winter transfer window. We have set a date to think about, January 6 or 7.” , and we didn’t get an answer. The player is on the market, we are looking for the best solution for all parties.”
“No offer for Vitinha”
Vitinha, who was acquired in January 2023 for around 30 million euros, had a complicated first year in the OM jersey. Despite playing more time since Gennaro Gattuso’s arrival on the first-team bench, the Portuguese forward has only scored three goals in Ligue 1 this season. “Vitinha’s situation is that he is a player who has a lot, especially after changing the game system with Gattuso,” continued the manager of the Marseille club.
“At the moment, the truth is that we have no offer for Vitinha.
And Pablo Longoria concludes the need for Vitinha to improve efficiency: “It is up to the player to look for continuity. We are satisfied with his daily work. But it is true that he must find continuity in performance sport. It is up to everyone to try to impose But his situation is not like that like Pape Gueye.”