Third in Ligue 1 during the 2022-2023 financial year, Olympique de Marseille necessarily had very high ambitions for the coming season. Symbol of this overflowing appetite, the more than eventful summer experienced on the Canebière. Unstoppable in the summer transfer window with no less than ten arrivals and thirteen departures, Pablo Longoria and his teams worked hard to build a competitive squad, ready to shine in the most prestigious of European competitions. Yes but now, since these summer heats, the temperature has dropped somewhat in the Marseille city. Overthrown by Panathinaikos in the third round of qualifying for the 2023-2024 Champions League, OM also had to manage the last few heated weeks with a crisis meeting, between the management and certain groups of supporters, leading to the departures of Marcelino and Javier Ribalta.
Nothingness for Amavi and Lirola, De La Fuente and Ben Seghir in the tough…
If the climate has finally calmed slightly for the current 6th in the French championship, in particular thanks to the arrival of Gennaro Gattuso on the Marseille bench, this sulfurous context has not, however, gone unnoticed by certain former players of the house Olympian. Loaned last summer, Mattéo Guendouzi, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Jordan Amavi, Konrad de La Fuente, Pol Lirola, Salim Ben Seghir and even Luis Henrique have, in fact, observed from afar this chaotic start to the season for the Ciel et Blanc. But where have they been since their departure? The first thing to say is that the results are hardly flattering. Unwanted on the OM side, Jordan Amavi, who returned from an experience with Getafe, was again loaned to Brest without a purchase option and, for the moment, his performance is comparable to nothing. Thus, since his arrival in the Breton club, the 29-year-old full-back has not played a single minute in Ligue 1.
A situation comparable to that of Pol Lirola in Italy near Frosinone. Returning from a loan to Elche during the previous financial year, the native of Mollet del Vallès took a chance on Serie A to get back on track. Yes, but now, after 8 days and despite a goal scored against Sassuolo at the start of the season, the Spanish right-back only played 5 minutes of play. Worse still, the one who sees his contract run until June 2026 with the OM was injured before making his comeback just before the break (an entry at the end of the match against Hellas Verona). Having left for Eibar in Spanish D2, Konrad de la Fuente – who never managed to win under the Olympian tunic – is for his part still in great pain. Disappointing during his time at Olympiakós Piraeus, the American international with 3 caps can, today, only boast of a small appearance with the 6th in the Spanish second division. Coming into play at the end of the match on the first day, the Miami winger has never found Joseba Etxeberria’s eleven since. A starving performance close to that rendered by Salim Ben Seghir in Neuchâtel Xamax.
Guendouzi, only satisfaction?
Free from any contract next June, the young 20-year-old Franco-Moroccan winger is also struggling to stand out from the crowd. With 66 minutes of play played in 3 matches and a clean sheet in terms of statistics, the child from Saint-Tropez is still chasing his first start. A trajectory which should quickly push the former Nice player towards the exit from OM. One thing is certain, the situation of the players currently on loan from the Marseille club is not good news for the upper echelons of Marseille, particularly in view of the next transfer window. And for good reason. Considering the overall performances and the almost non-existent playing time for some, it is difficult for Pablo Longoria and his teams to imagine sales during the next deadlines or even to consider reintegration into the OM group. A headache that the Olympian president will not normally have to ask himself with Matteo Guendouzi. Sent to Lazio Rome for one million euros with a mandatory purchase option of 12 million euros + 5 million additional bonus, the French international midfielder (7 caps, 1 goal) made a rather interesting debut in Italy.
Although he has already played eight games with the Biancocelesti, the 24-year-old has also been decisive against Celtic in the Champions League. A decisive passer, the native of Poissy had already made a name for himself during his first appearance against Naples (1-2 victory) by scoring with a sudden strike from 20 meters and delivering a decisive pass, both refused for offside. “He is a player of great intensity. He has good defensive qualities, which can be useful. He is a player with a great personality. He only trained twice and it felt like he had already been in the squad for a long time. He has a strong personality. Constantly bringing in new players is complicated, our game is very collective. The integration of Mattéo Guendouzi has been accelerated”rejoiced Maurizio Sarri, the man who pushed to recruit him. “Kamada and Guendouzi are fantastic players. Matteo played for Arsenal and Marseille, that already says it all. He’s a serious boy.”added, for his part, Luis Alberto about the former Gunners player, who therefore already seems very popular with Rome.
Luis Henrique thwarts Pablo Longoria’s plans…
Having gone on loan to Genoa for 1.5 million euros, with a compulsory purchase option of around 10 million euros, Ruslan Malinovskyi is having a more contrasting experience. Disappointing during his time at the Vélodrome, the Ukrainian attacking midfielder certainly found certain sensations with the Rossoblu, fifteenth in Serie A. However, after 6 appearances (including 4 starts), the 30-year-old player has still not been able to celebrate the slightest goal and/or offering but remains precious in the eyes of Alberto Gilardino, coach of the club founded in 1893. Used in an attacking midfielder role or a more remote one in the midfield, the former Dea executive also brings on the right wing (Naples, 4th day). A performance, however, insufficient given his status with the “Grifone”. Experienced, the native of Zhytomyr should, despite everything, occupy an essential role throughout the season, particularly in the locker room where several young players will need to be supervised.
Finally, to conclude this overview, Luis Henrique, loaned for a year and a half to Brazil, to Botafogo, until the end of 2023, also remains in the sights of the Olympian leaders. Author of 6 goals and 4 assists in 49 matches in all competitions, the 21-year-old left winger could, in fact, see his purchase option automatically lifted if he plays half of his team’s minutes. But here again, Pablo Longoria – who hopes to recover up to eight million euros if all the conditions are met – has something to worry about. 12 days before the end of the championship, the number 11 of Glorioso has totaled 2211 minutes of play out of 5310 possible in all competitions, or 41.6%. To hope to see Marseille’s coffers replenished at the end of the year, we will therefore have to speed up the pace somewhat. For the moment, things are going rather badly…
