‘It’s all in place’ – Medhi Benatia set to be nominated Marseille sporting director | OneFootball

RMC Sport report that Medhi Benatia will indeed be appointed the new sporting director of Olympoque de Marseille. Until now, his official title has been a ‘Sporting Advisor’ to the Preisdent of OM, Pablo Longoria. However, that contract has now reached expiry with no official announcement regarding the former Bayern Munich defender’s future.

At the end of November 2023, with the club in crisis, Marseille hired former academy player Benatia to assume the role of the club’s sporting director, albeit as an external consultant. Since his arrival, he has overseen a reconstruction both on the field and behind the scenes. As well as an ambitious recruitment drive with some big-money arrivals, notably Mason Greenwood, Elye Wahi, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Adrien Rabiot, he was also behind the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as manager.

Whilst he has been a big part of the re-build, Benatia’s own future has not been entirely clear, even if the man in question has never evoked any worry or fear of leaving the club. Sources at OM have now told RMC Sport that “everything is in place” for Benatia to remain at the club. It has also been confirmed that the Moroccan will indeed be nominated sporting director. His contract will be around two-and-a-half years, with the expiry coinciding with that of De Zerbi.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle