Marseille manager Bruno Genesio addresses tension over Igor Paixao saga | OneFootball

We now have a clearer picture of the tensions that emerged from Igor Paixao’s prospective move from Olympique de Marseille to Sunderland.

Greenwood, Facundo Medina, Geronimo Rulli, Leonardo Balerdi, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all left the club. But despite several departures, the club were still not in a position to invest a single penny, due to their obligations to the DNCG and UEFA.

In fact, as the transfer window neared its end, there was talk of even more players leaving the club, including Paixao, who was the subject of talks with Sunderland. There had been reports – at the time – of Bruno Genesio’s strong opposition to the Brazilian’s sale. There was even talk of resignation. Speaking after the closure of the transfer window, club president Stéphane Richard revealed how close Genesio was to breaking point.

“Bruno wasn’t blackmailing and saying that if so-and-so leaves, then I am leaving, too, but we weren’t far from the breaking point with Paixao. I campaigned for Paixao to stay. If I hadn’t intervened, he might have left. In the end, the decision was (Frank) McCourt’s (Marseille owner). He made the effort,” revealed Richard. 

In an interview with Ligue 1 Plus, Genesio has now addressed the saga, too. “It is my job to alert my superiors to the sporting consequences of such a decision… it is also a question of the club’s survival. We need to be able to – at the same time – adapt to the club’s economic context, whilst also keeping some sporting prerogatives. I was lucky – I was heard,” said the OM manager.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle