The deflagration was as violent as it is predictable. Serge Aurier's words, “I prefer not to eat only to sign at OM”, Resonate as a humiliation for the Marseille club. But beyond the expected provocation of the former Parisian, this thunderous media outing is above all the symptom of a much deeper error. It highlights a major and surprising misstep of the Marseille sports leadership. Because before being indignant at the answer, a much more disturbing question arises: how OM, and its sports advisor Mehdi Benatia, however experienced to the Arcana of the transfer window, were they able to expose themselves to such a return of flame?
A daring bet, a poorly measured risk
The initiative, signed Mehdi Benatia, seems to be part of a audacity logic, perhaps carried by past successes such as the bet Adrien Rabiot. Building on his successes, did the sports advisor believe he can repeat the feat with an even more divisive profile? It was to forget the flammable character of Serge Aurier and his attachment much more demonstrative to PSG. By thinking of being able to seduce such a player, management has shown excess of confidence, completely underestimating the probability of a scathing and public refusal which was inevitably turning against it.
Failed attempt, assured humiliation: OM offers a useless crisis
The “loyalty lesson”, a consequence of a hazardous approach
The Ivorian's response is therefore only the logical consequence of this approach. By holding out the stick to get beaten, OM gave him the opportunity to shine with Parisian supporters on a set. His “loyalty lesson” is all the more ironic on the part of a player who, in 2016, had not hesitated to insult his own coach at PSG, Laurent Blanc. But OM should have anticipated that Aurier would have no qualms about using this pole to make the buzz, even if it means being in excess.
The real earthquake is in Marseille, targeted Benatia
Because the real earthquake is not so much the provocation of Aurier, but its internal repercussions in Marseille. On social networks, it is not (only) the name of the Ivorian who is conspired, but that of Mehdi Benatia. The Marseille supporters criticize their management this attempt which they deem disconnected from the club's DNA. This public failure weakens the sports advisor, whose credibility is deemed by an initiative which highlights a gap between its strategy and the expectations of its base.
An error that is expensive and recalls OM rules
In the end, this Aurier fiasco leaves traces and acts as a warning. He demonstrates that in a club as passionate as OM, knowledge of codes and local psychology is a non -negotiable prerequisite, even for an established leader. For Mehdi Benatia, this case is a stain on a hitherto solid assessment and places it under renewed pressure. This is a case of school on the way in which a badly calculated bet, even starting from a sporting intention, can quickly turn into a crisis of confidence.
