Arriving this summer as part of the vast renewal desired by Roberto De Zerbi, CJ Egan-Riley seemed destined for a more assertive role in the Marseille rotation. But after three initial starts, the Englishman slipped to the bench, playing several matches without a single minute. A situation that the defender is now addressing publicly, with calm but also a touch of frustration.
Egan-Riley is patient, but sends a message
In an interview with SportsBoomthe player trained at Manchester City wanted to be measured. He ensures “feeling very well integrated” and underlines the “good culture” of the locker room, in particular thanks to his proximity to Mason Greenwood and Angel Gomes. But behind this apparent serenity, his words also reflect a need for expression on the ground: “There are a lot of competitions, the Champions League, the Coupe de France… I will have time to play and give my best.” A sentence which sounds like a reminder, discreet but clear, to the attention of the Marseille staff.
The former Burnley also talks about his European career, between discovery of the Bernabeu and great performance against Ajax (4-0). These memories, experienced at just 22 years old, fuel his desire to replay this type of meeting. “When you don't start matches, you have to be ready for anything,” he says, lucid about the competition but determined to seize the slightest opening.
CJ Egan-Riley confides his impatience regarding his playing time at OM
An ambitious young Englishman, well surrounded
Close to Greenwood and Gomes, Egan-Riley fully lives his French adventure, but he remains no less ambitious. “It’s a long season, not everyone can play 80 minutes in every game,”
he recalls, aware of the hierarchy in place but convinced that his time will come. His patience, tinged with a slight annoyance, reveals a competitive temperament more than a passing mood.
Beyond his personal case, his speech also illustrates the state of mind of an English generation which seeks to establish itself abroad, far from the comfort of the Premier League. For De Zerbi, this type of profile – young, disciplined, but hungry – remains an asset to be channeled rather than a problem to be managed. The ball is now in the Italian technician's court.
