LOSC president reveals reason behind Chancel Mbemba's move

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·21. September 2025

LOSC president reveals reason behind Chancel Mbemba's move

After a season spent in exile, completely excluded from the first team at Olympique de Marseille, Chancel Mbemba has finally found a new home. The Congolese international was officially unveiled as a Lille OSC player on Friday, marking a fresh start for the defender with Les Dogues.

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His presentation was a study in contrasts. While Mbemba himself remained tactfully discreet about his difficult year in Marseille, choosing to look forward rather than back, his new president, Olivier Létang, was far more vocal. Seizing the moment, Létang did not shy away from openly criticizing the handling of the situation by his Marseille counterpart, Pablo Longoria.

"I genuinely wished for Chancel to join us a year ago. I contacted the president of OM on multiple occasions, following all the proper protocols to inquire whether a move for Chancel would be possible. Both times, I received a clear and firm position stating that he would not be leaving. Therefore, I did not want to create any confusion or disrupt the situation."

In a revelation to the press, the Lille president painted a picture of a protracted and frustrating negotiation. He disclosed that he had first attempted to bring the "Leopard" to Lille in the summer of 2024. According to Létang, Longoria systematically refused to entertain the offer, a decision that effectively forced the player to remain in Marseille against his will, cementing his year of professional purgatory. This backstory adds a layer of intrigue and redemption to Mbemba's new beginning in the north of France.