14:57
This is the end of this press conference
Thank you all for following it.
14:57
Longoria sur Mughe
“He had a period of suspension after the elimination of Cameroon but I can’t say precise dates, I think it was two or three days.”
14:55
Longoria on the OM transfer window
“I don’t like to take stock in the middle of the transfer window. The assessment will be made at the end of the season. We had primary objectives at the start of the transfer window, to give the coach the necessary weapons. We had priorities at the back position left and midfield.”
“If there are movements in the last hours, it will be with the objective of improving the mentality.”
14:53
Longoria on leaving Vitinha: “We are discussing with Genoa and other clubs”
“It’s difficult to establish yourself at OM when you’re a striker. We’re talking with Genoa, there are conversations. We’re talking with other clubs. A loan doesn’t interest us.”
14:53
Longoria attacks Pape Gueye, for whom a way out is sought
“For Pape Gueye, the club offered a contract extension twice. He trained very well with us since the summer. He had a good level of commitment to training. The club’s interest is more important than the interest of the player. The non-response does not respect the club. We want to find a way out before Thursday. It is a clear position. It is a question of respect for the club. We supported the player, we paid the lawyer’s fees and compensation to Watford, we allowed him to train. We want players who are in the project, who are fully committed. I want to repeat: one of our problems at the moment is commitment.”
14:52
Luis Henrique left to stay?
Pablo Longoria: “For Luis Henrique, the first thing is to thank him for the way in which he came back. He had a very good match against Monaco. His situation is special. We believe a lot in his potential, since the first day . It’s difficult to establish yourself as you arrive at 18. He never found continuity, the season in Brazil did him good. Even today we were discussing. The doors of OM are still open for him. We will have an individual discussion with him. The position today is that we care about Luis Henrique. What he showed in the match and the determination in training.”
14:47
Merlin on what he thought of OM against Monaco
“It was a fairly successful match, even if it lacked success on both surfaces, especially offensively.”
14:46
Merlin on the Paris Olympics
“I have the goal of participating in the Olympics. But for that, you have to be good at the club. You first have to have a good head for the club. The Olympics are something else, it’s unique. I hope to experience that but first you have to be very good here.”
14:44
Merlin on the atmosphere of the Vélodrome
“I saw the big difference between Nantes and Marseille. Nantes was already good, but the Vélodrome stadium is something extraordinary. It galvanizes me, it makes me want to finish the match KO.”
14:43
Merlin on his preferred position
“I am a versatile player. I played on the left almost all the time. I got a taste for it. If the coach makes me play midfielder, left-back or left midfielder, I would adapt.”
14:41
Merlin on the Nantes connection to OM
“When I arrived, integration was easier when you know players like Valentin (Rongier). But everything went well, I was well received.”
14:40
Merlin behind the scenes of the negotiations
“We contacted each other before the Laval match in the Coupe de France. The club (Nantes) asked me if I wanted to play, I said yes because it was only the start of the negotiations. Afterwards, I I asked not to train because I didn’t want to bring anything negative into the group.”
“At one point, it got a little stuck, I almost didn’t believe it anymore. But I really wanted to come here, I asked my father and my agents to push.”
14:39
Merlin on his qualities and his faults
“I have good vision of the game, good quality of passing. I know how to stay calm. I am a consistent person. My faults? It is defensively, because I am a trained midfielder. I continue to work day in and day out.”
14:38
Merlin: “I’m a competitor”
“I’m a competitor, who doesn’t give up and who hates to lose. When I go on the pitch, I want to win. That’s what I want to bring to the group, even if the group already has this soul.”
14:37
Merlin: “Get out of my comfort zone”
“I needed to get out of my comfort zone. In Nantes, I was the darling because I was trained there. I’m leaving my family. Humanly, I want to learn to discover myself. I also want to gauge myself by compared to my level.”
14:36
Merlin on his desire to come to OM
“It’s my first transfer. It’s a big club, a special, historic club. It was an obvious choice when they contacted me. It’s a club that suits me, with character. There is players who have the same mentality as me. It was a logical continuation in my career to come here.”
14:34
Pablo Longoria presents Quentin Merlin
“After the departure of Renan Lodi, we made it a priority to have a player who knows Ligue 1, who is under 25 years old. Quentin fit into all the parameters of the club. He is one of the best full-backs in the championship. He showed very good things in the European Cup, good matches with the French junior team. What impressed us was his mentality, his determination.”
“In the championship, we lost to Nice and Lens in a similar fashion. We also lost to Brighton in the last moments. What was important for us was to have a player who has a good mentality.”
14:31
Let’s go for this press conference
Longoria and Merlin have arrived.
14:25
Quentin Merlin’s presentation begins in a few moments
The new Marseille left-back and Pablo Longoria are expected at 2:30 p.m. in the press room.
12:21
Hello everyone
Welcome to the RMC Sport website and application to follow Quentin Merlin’s presentation press conference live and in full. Recruited from FC Nantes for 10 million euros, the French junior international (21 years old) has signed up until 2028 with OM.
In Marseille, Merlin aims to compensate for the departure of Renan Lodi to Saudi Arabia. In Gennaro Gattuso’s group, he will be in competition with Ulisses Garcia, also recruited during this winter transfer window and who has already played two games under the Olympian colors.
From 2:30 p.m., Pablo Longoria will accompany Merlin to the press. In the home stretch of the transfer window, which closes its doors this Thursday, February 1, the president of OM will be able to take stock of the latest files in progress.
2024-01-29 13:57:22
#Longoria #confirms #discussions #Genoa #Vitinha
