# Medhi Benatia departure from Olympique de Marseille > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/medhi-benatia-departure-from-olympique-de-marseille > Updated: 2026-08-10T02:31:00.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. Following his departure from Olympique de Marseille (OM), former sporting director Medhi Benatia has publicly addressed the club’s sporting and financial struggles. Benatia accepted responsibility for certain sporting failures and criticized player professionalism, but he rejected claims that he caused the club’s economic instability, describing frequent player transfers as a pre-existing structural issue. Benatia expressed a sense of betrayal regarding his relationship with former president Pablo Longoria and ownership. He revealed that during a meeting in Kuwait with owner Frank McCourt, he learned the club faced a significant deficit requiring approximately 30 million euros in player sales. Benatia noted that neither he nor manager Roberto De Zerbi had been fully informed of the severity of this financial situation. His comments highlight a breakdown in trust between management and ownership as the club faces a difficult period ahead of the 2026-2027 season. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-10: Medhi Benatia addresses financial crisis at Olympique de Marseille Former OM sporting director Medhi Benatia claims he felt “betrayed” after discovering the club's severe financial instability during a meeting with owner Frank McCourt. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medhi-benatia-addresses-financial-crisis-at-olympique-de-marseille ### 2026-08-07: Medhi Benatia addresses departure from Olympique de Marseille Former OM football director Medhi Benatia criticizes player professionalism and financial management while clarifying his future career prospects and relationship with PSG. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/medhi-benatia-blames-pablo-longoria-as-om-turmoil-deepens --- Cite as: Medhi Benatia departure from Olympique de Marseille. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/medhi-benatia-departure-from-olympique-de-marseille