Olympique de Marseille faces significant financial challenges as the winter transfer window approaches, according to reporting by Yahoo Sports.
The club, which failed to sign any new players during the previous summer window, is reportedly under pressure to trim its current squad to satisfy requirements set by the French financial regulator.
Mehdi Benatia, the former sporting director for the club, recently addressed the internal tensions regarding the team’s budget in an interview with Canal+.
Benatia recounted a conversation with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who had expected a budget of 30 million euros to secure a top-tier striker.
During the exchange, Benatia informed the coach that the club actually needed to generate 35 million euros in revenue rather than spend it.
The former Juventus player explained that the coach was surprised by this news, stating, “What?! But that’s not what I was told!”
Benatia confirmed that he was equally unaware of the financial constraints, noting that he had not been informed of the true budget either.
When pressed on whether he felt deceived by former chairman Pablo Longoria, Benatia responded with direct criticism of the executive’s integrity.
The former director told the television audience, “He lied to me, that’s for sure. I’m saying it on TV: he lied to me. Of course he lied to me!”
These revelations shed light on the internal friction at the club, as noted by Get Football News France.
The ongoing situation highlights the disconnect between management and the technical staff regarding the financial reality of the club.
As the French club prepares for upcoming roster adjustments, the public dispute underscores the precarious nature of their current administrative environment.
The comments from Benatia serve as a stark indicator of the communication breakdowns that have hindered the club’s recent operational planning, per the outlets.