Genesio says he did not back decision to strip Höjbjerg of Marseille captaincy | OneFootball

Bruno Genesio said he did not support Marseille’s decision to take the captaincy from Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg and hand it to Timothy Weah, a change imposed by the club hierarchy.

On the team sheet for OM against Atlético de Madrid, Weah captained in place of Höjbjerg, who had worn the armband throughout pre-season. According to L'Équipe, the Dane still produced a solid, intense display and confronted opponents after Giuliano Simeone’s early tackle on Igor Paixao in the fifth minute.

Post-match, Genesio said the instruction came from above, he did not agree with it, but as an employee he had to comply.

On Monday, Höjbjerg rejected a three-year offer from Newcastle, even though OM had agreed a transfer worth 8 million euros plus two million in bonuses. That stance displeased owner Frank McCourt, whose camp let that be known informally. During the World Cup, McCourt personally chose Unique Sports Group to arrange the move, only for it to collapse.

McCourt, citing the club’s interests, did not understand the refusal at a time when every euro counts, with OM committed to drastically cutting the wage bill to register new signings. Trimming Höjbjerg’s pay, the club’s highest at around 6 million euros gross a year, is viewed as crucial in this austerity.

Genesio is working with the squad he has. He has avoided creating a separate loft group, unlike the summers of 2024 and 2025, and intends to use Höjbjerg while he remains.

Source: L'Équipe

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