Xabi Alonso turned down Marseille approach amid instability | OneFootball

Xabi Alonso was considered by Olympique de Marseille before the club accelerated talks with Habib Beye, according to information revealed during a meeting between owner Frank McCourt and supporter representatives on Tuesday – reported by RMC Sport. However, the Spaniard was not convinced by the conditions on offer. Marseille’s ongoing institutional turbulence including uncertainty over the presidency, reduced sporting influence for Pablo Longoria, and the prospect of a short-term coaching mandate is understood to have discouraged Alonso from pursuing the opportunity further.Instead, OM appear set to turn toward a more pragmatic solution in the form of Habib Beye, whose imminent arrival is pending validation from the LFP. Roberto De Zerbi departed the club a week ago following a 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique and mounting inconsistency. Sporting director Medhi Benatia had handed his resignation the same day that De Zerbi departed the club, but after he announced his departure yesterday, Marseille owner Frank McCourt brought him back into the fold to hand him more footballing responsibilities. This was all the while demoting president Pablo Longoria to institutional duties. GFFN | George Boxall