Medhi Benatia addresses financial crisis at Olympique de Marseille

Former Olympique de Marseille (OM) sporting director Medhi Benatia has addressed his departure and the club’s internal struggles in a recent interview with France Football. Benatia described a turning point during a meeting in Kuwait with owner Frank McCourt, where he discovered the club faced a significant financial deficit requiring approximately 30 million euros in player sales.

Benatia stated he felt “betrayed” because neither he nor manager Roberto De Zerbi had been fully informed of the severity of the club's financial situation. While he acknowledged some shortcomings in his sporting project, he rejected responsibility for the club's current economic instability, noting that the pattern of frequent player movements has persisted for several years.

The interview comes at a sensitive time for OM, as the club reportedly faces a difficult financial period ahead of the 2026-2027 season. Benatia’s comments suggest a breakdown in trust between the sporting management and ownership, highlighting a situation where the club may need to sell a large portion of its squad to ensure survival.