Medhi Benatia has ended his two and a half years at Olympique de Marseille by launching severe criticism of club president Pablo Longoria over financial reality, as Foot Mercato reported.
The former Morocco international served as an advisor and later as sporting director before his departure from the Ligue 1 club. During a 90-minute interview on Canal+ with journalist Bertrand Latour, Benatia detailed the frustrations that defined his tenure, culminating in missing out on the UEFA Champions League for the second season by two points.
« Je comprends la frustration des gens. Ils nous ont donné beaucoup d’amour. Ils ont été patients. Ils ont cru en ce projet-là. C’est ça qui fait mal aujourd’hui aux Marseillais. Malheureusement, ça a pété en janvier quand le coach s’en va, le bordel etc », said Medhi Benatia, former sporting director, told Foot Mercato.
Benatia revealed that he discovered a severe financial shortfall during a meeting in Kuwait prior to the Trophée des Champions alongside Longoria and club owner Frank McCourt. According to the former sporting director, Longoria withheld the true state of the club’s finances when he took office in November 2023.
« Moi, Longoria m’a menti. Bien sûr qu’il m’a menti », said Benatia, former sporting director, told Foot Mercato.
He explained that upon his arrival, 12 players departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving the squad short of numbers. Subsequent winter window moves saw the departures of players such as Renan Lodi, sold to Saudi Arabia for €23 million while dealing with pubalgia, alongside incoming loans and acquisitions including Ulisses Garcia, Quentin Merlin, and Jean Onana.
Addressing the club’s wage bill, Benatia argued that high salaries are a systemic issue at Marseille rather than a creation of the current administration. He said that the club consistently carries the second-highest payroll in Ligue 1.
« À l’OM, il y a toujours eu de gros salaires. Le joueur ne vient pas à l’OM s’il n’y a pas un gros salaire, je te le dis », said Benatia, former sporting director, told Foot Mercato.
Despite financial constraints, Benatia pointed to high-profile arrivals secured through his network, including Benjamin Pavard—whose salary was heavily subsidized—and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from Tottenham Hotspur.
The turbulent campaign saw Roberto De Zerbi depart in February following a run of difficult results, including a 5-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain and an exit in Europe. While Benatia pointed to successes in identifying young talent such as Robinio Vaz and Darryl Bakola, he maintained that his efforts to build a competitive side were undermined by a lack of transparent communication from leadership.
« Que je le cite ou pas (Longoria), je n’en pense pas moins. À ce moment-là, je comprends qu’on me prend pour un con. Je ne peux pas travailler 22h par jour sans qu’on me dise les vraies choses », said Benatia, former sporting director, told Foot Mercato.
Pablo Longoria has not publicly responded to the accusations.
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