Despite persistent rumours, Saudi Arabia is not necessarily interested in buying Olympique de Marseille. The Middle Eastern country intends to resume the strategy of Qatar in order to extend its influence in sport. But the acquisition of the Marseille club is not a necessity.
The news of Olympique de Marseille is not only driven by the transfer window and the search for a new coach. Regularly mentioned in recent years, the hypothesis of a takeover by a Saudi fund has resurfaced. And especially this week given that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed ben Salmane, has planned to meet the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron this Friday. His arrival, however, has nothing to do with Frank McCourt’s club, tempers journalist Georges Malbrunot, who does not imagine Olympique de Marseille under the Saudi flag.
Saudi Arabia’s strategy
” I don’t have any specific information but I don’t think right nowcommented the specialist on the i24 channel. Saudi Arabia wants to play a sporting role, to have soft power. They are going to organize the Asian Winter Games (in 2029), they have Paris-Dakar, they want the World Cup… But there have been a lot of unfounded rumours. This is a subject that makes Marseille supporters jump. They (the Saudis) understood Qatar’s strategy, which worked in this area since Qatar had the World Cup. So they want to do the same. »
Will Saudi Arabia buy the@OM_Official ?
“MBS and Macron are not best friends, and I’m not sure Macron can influence MBS to buy OM.” @Malbrunot @BPetrover pic.twitter.com/ACfUEff61p
– The Big Mouths Middle East (@GGMO_i24) June 15, 2023
As a Marseille supporter, the French head of state will always be able to discuss the subject with his guest. ” Emmanuel Macron may ask. But between Mohammed ben Salmane and Emmanuel Macron, it is not the great lovewarned Georges Malbrunot. Emmanuel Macron knows that in this area, he has quite limited power. Nicolas Sarkozy convinced Qatar to buy PSG, but I’m not sure that Emmanuel Macron has the ability to influence Mohammed bin Salman to buy Olympique de Marseille. Not enough to dispel the rumors that the Saudis could allow the appointment of coach Zinedine Zidane.
