OM, a false start confirmed?

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By: Manu Tournoux

OM, a false start confirmed?

Placed on the list of players likely to leave OM this summer, Igor Paixao would like to stay at the club.

It’s no longer a secret, Olympique de Marseille needs money. Sanctioned by the DNCG, the Riviera club must absolutely replenish its coffers and therefore sell players to free up payroll. Thus, the Olympian management has placed most of its players as potentially transferable during the summer transfer window.

Paixao leaving?

Arriving last summer for 35 million euros, Igor Paixao is no exception. The Brazilian winger had a rather satisfactory first season in the sky and white jersey with 12 goals and 6 assists in 42 matches in all competitions. He was notably decisive in the Champions League.

A complicated affair

His performances and his status as a “saleable player” obviously caught the eye, particularly that of Leeds, who would be interested in his attacking profile. But for his part, Marseille number 14 does not want to leave, or at least not “leave for the sake of leaving”. While he feels good on the Cannebière, as evidenced by his girlfriend’s story (a photo of the Vélodrome with written “It will forever remain in my heart”), the 26-year-old only wants to leave to join a real project, ambitious and logical for the rest of his career.

New leader at OM?

As things stand, an agreement with Leeds seems difficult to find: Paixao is only the Peacocks’ third choice in attack and Frank McCourt is demanding 50 million euros for his winger. After the aborted transfer of Hojbjerg to Newcastle, OM could therefore see another opportunity to balance its books slip away. On the pitch, Paixao could become one of the offensive leaders of his team after the departure of Mason Greenwood to Fenerbahçe, especially since Bruno Genesio highly appreciates the Brazilian. Against Athletic Bilbao in a friendly, he stood out again with a goal from outside the penalty area as he was accustomed to doing last season.

Categories OM
Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.