Thirty-five million euros. This is the colossal sum spent by Olympique de Marseille to attach the services of Igor Peaceão. The Brazilian winger, author of a stratospheric season in Feyenoord, was the great desire of Roberto de Zerbi. But since his arrival at the end of July, radio silence. Wounded at a thigh, he missed the first three days of the championship. His return was hoped after the international break, for the reception of Lorient. A hope that is turning to worry.
Growing concern around Igor Peaceão
According to the latest information from Provencethe Marseille staff should be “still a little patient”. The regional daily talks about a return “at best from mid-September”, without any certainty. In addition to his injury, the Brazilian must catch up with a significant physical deficit and acclimatize to the intensity of Ligue 1, much higher than that of the Dutch championship. Clearly, no one really knows when Peaceão is operational.
This uncertainty is a real poison for a club already under pressure. With only three points taken in three games, OM has missed its start to the season. The absence of its offensive detonator, the one on whom so many hopes rest, is sorely felt. Upon recovery and while other recruits like Pavard or Vermeeren will make their debut, the most expensive of them may remain at the infirmary.
The fiasco spectrum
For a club like OM, where pressure is immediate and patience a rare commodity, this kind of setback is a slow poison. Massive Peaceão investment was to be a declaration of intention, a strong signal sent to competition. For the moment, it is a question mark which weighs heavily on the project of Zerbi. The player will have, on his return, not only justify his astronomical price, but also do it in an emergency climate, without having had time to build automatisms with his teammates. A huge challenge, even for a talent for his caliber.
For the moment, the club advocates patience and does not want to take any risks. But the concern grows. Every day passing without seeing peace of training is a day more where doubt settles. OM has bet very large on the Brazilian. A bet which, for the moment, is more and more like a jump in the unknown.
