Medhi Benatia engaged in an interview granted on Friday to CORRIERE DELLO SPORT. The opportunity for OM sports director to release some indiscretions on the last Marseille Mercatos. He explains in particular that he almost brought in another coach than Roberto de Zerbi in the summer of 2024, his priority at the time being Paulo Fonseca.
“Everything was done, we had an agreement, but in May 2024, after our defeat in Bergame against Atalanta (0-3 in the semi-finals return from the Europa League), he called and told us that nothing was going to be donehe says. On June 13, he was a coach of Milan. We then turned to (Sergio) Conceiçao. »» Again, a track abandoned by the Olympian leaders.
Medhi Benatia was targeting a French international!
“When we knew that we had the possibility of signing from Zerbi, we said to ourselves with President Pablo Longoria: 'Come on, we try'. Pushed by the owner (Frank) McCourt, we went to the attack ”he adds. A choice that turned out to pay since the Italian technician allowed OM to find the Champions League after two years of absence.
And Medhi Benatia to admit having passed close to a very nice blow, a player this time. Manu Koné, whom Didier Deschamps regularly summons to the French team (10 selections), evolved in Mönchengladbach but “The economic parameters were too high for us and AS Rome was strongregrets the leader. Manu is really a very beautiful player. »»
