Olympique de Marseille appoints Grégory Lorenzi as sporting director amid wage cuts

Olympique de Marseille has appointed 42‑year‑old former Brest sporting director Grégory Lorenzi to replace Mehdi Benatia. Owner Frank McCourt has ordered a drastic financial reset after overspending in the Roberto De Zerbi era, demanding the wage bill be halved and major contracts sold.

Working with head coach Bruno Genesio, Lorenzi must assemble a squad capable of qualifying for the Champions League without a transfer budget, with a deadline of 31 August to deliver an operational team. The task is described as a “mission impossible” given the club’s cash‑strapped situation.