Jérémy Mathieu says Zubizarreta blocked 2017 Marseille move | OneFootball

Jérémy Mathieu says a 2017 move to Marseille fell through because Andoni Zubizarreta blocked it. The former Sporting centre-back said on Monday he had hoped for the switch.

According to O Jogo, he has supported Marseille since childhood and, after three seasons at Barcelona, came close to making it happen in summer 2017.

He said he wanted to leave, Zubizarreta was at Marseille and Rudi Garcia was coach. They shared an agent, so Garcia knew his position and wanted him.

Zubizarreta did not proceed because he felt Achilles tendon problems could persist and that Mathieu might not last the season. The defender instead joined Sporting, making more than 50 appearances that campaign. Zubizarreta later served as Porto's sporting director between 2024 and 2025.

Mathieu highlighted the Papin and Waddle era as formative for his Marseille fandom. He is 42 and has been retired since 2023. He spent three seasons at Sporting from 2017 to 2020, winning two Taça da Liga titles.

Source: O Jogo