Fall-out between Matt O’Riley and Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler led to Marseille loan | OneFootball

Matt O’Riley’s (24) full debut for Olympique de Marseille came on the grandest of stages – the Santiago Bernabéu – but his very presence in Provence owes much to a sudden rupture in England. According to a report from La Provence, a clash with the Seagulls head coach Fabian Hürzeler after the third Premier League matchday dramatically changed his trajectory.Only weeks earlier, Brighton had closed the door on OM’s advances. Medhi Benatia, Marseille’s sporting director, had sounded out O’Riley’s agent – his father, Dominic – earlier in the summer. Brighton had invested €30m to sign him from Celtic in 2024, and were not ready to sell or loan him.Rabiot’s late departure to AC Milan, however, forced Marseille back into the market. When relations soured between O’Riley and Hürzeler, the opportunity reopened. With the transfer window closing, the deal was rushed through in under 24 hours — a loan without an option to buy, with Brighton determined to protect their investment.O’Riley was immediately thrust into the starting XI against Real Madrid, where his tidy technique was evident. But the Dane was criticised for slowing OM’s counter-attacks. Roberto De Zerbi admitted afterwards he regretted not introducing Angel Gomes, who had thrived in the previous match against Lorient, to add creativity.Marseille nonetheless see him as a versatile box-to-box midfielder in the mould of Rabiot, rather than a classic No.10. For O’Riley, the Clasico against PSG this weekend offers the perfect chance to win over a sceptical fanbase – and prove that his Bernabéu baptism was only a first step.GFFN | George Boxall