While his arrival seemed almost certain, Mehdi Benatia is no longer at all sure of becoming the sporting director at OM.
Like what he had experienced as a player, Mehdi Benatia could miss the opportunity to break into Marseille as sports director. The story of another missed meeting for the Franco-Moroccan.
There were only a few details to be resolved a priori for Benatia to take Javier Ribalta’s place in the organization chart of the Marseille club. However, today he seems to be quite far from this responsibility. It was Pablo Longoria himself who shared this news on Tuesday evening.
Longoria discusses with other candidates than Benatia
“He’s one of the people we spoke to, it’s true. He is a person who has a very high level. But at the moment, we have to discuss the situations a lot and try to analyze the feasibility of the project. This is why we still have to take time to announce the sports director. There are currently discussions with different candidates », Said the Olympian boss in an interview with RMC Sport.
The Spaniard then clarified that if OM is procrastinating regarding Benatia it is not at all because of his status as an agent: “No, we had conversations with him. It’s true. There is a situation which is particular and for which we must ensure legality, as with all questions that we take up inside the club. And there is also the analysis of the situation in general to choose the right sports director. »
“OM misses Ribalta”
Longoria also said he didn’t blame Ribalta for leaving the ship in the middle of a storm: ” The decisions of people in the sporting world are not the decisions of a president. This is why I am the first to understand because I was the first to say that in these conditions, it was very difficult to work in peace. That’s why I understand Javier’s decision and that’s why I understand Marcelino’s decision. Because the sports people, who think purely about the sportsman and just try to make it happen around the sportsman, experienced a situation that was unacceptable.”
“Do I miss him? No, the club misses him. Because Javier Ribalta is a person with an extraordinary level. He is one of the best sports directors. At the club, he established the sporting strategy. As a football director he is one of the best in Europe,” concluded the Marseille boss.
