If Olympique de Marseille provided the essentials on Sunday, winning on the lawn of Troyes (0-2) at the end of the 6th day of Ligue 1, the end of the match left a bitter aftertaste on the side of the Marseille city. More than the score or the overall performance of the team, it is a very specific sequence occurring in the 88th minute which livens up the debates: the exit of Igor Paixao.
Replaced by Faris Moumbagna, the 26-year-old Brazilian winger returned to the bench with a closed face, letting his discontent show by deliberately snubbing the outstretched hand of his coach, Bruno Genesio. This inappropriate reaction sparked strong reactions, starting with Kevin Diaz, who was particularly angry with the attitude of the former Feyenoord Rotterdam player. For the RMC consultant, this type of behavior is intolerable from a manager who is supposed to pull the group to the top.
“It’s unacceptable, you don’t have to be disappointed with your match, you’re out. You are in a very complicated period, you encourage your teammates, you clap your partner’s hand. You are a leader, we kept you, we refused 35 potatoes so that you could help the club meet the minimum of possible objectives”, he said in reference to the offers refused during the summer transfer window, Bruno Genesio having stepped up to keep his player.
Bruno Genesio plays the appeasement card
“It’s okay, you got me drunk. If I am a sports director, I will call him tomorrow with his direct agent and I will say to him: “But you are crazy. We are in an unspeakable mess, you know about it and you are going to be the star to come out in the 88th.” It’s incredible »he continued, Walid Acherchour adding:
“With the price it cost last year and especially the market value it had this summer, it’s true that it’s starting to be complicated. »
Bought for 35 million euros in the summer of 2025 and retained during the last transfer window despite offers equivalent to his purchase price, the Olympian No. 14 is struggling to regain his best level. Author of only one decisive pass since the start of the season, he delivered lackluster performances, a far cry from his sparkling performance during the summer.
Faced with this emerging controversy, Bruno Genesio preferred to adopt a calming posture. Asked directly about Ligue 1+, the Marseille technician sought to defuse the tension and protect his player. “I think he was disappointed to come out, maybe disappointed with his match as well. These are things that we can understand in frustration, in irritation. Like the team, I think Igor needs to regain his confidence, and he can count on me to support him in this area. »
