With global attention fixed on the Americas for the ongoing 2026 World Cup, former Olympique de Marseille (OM) sporting director Medhi Benatia finds himself reflecting on a turbulent period at the French club. He openly shares his disappointment over a promising young international player he had hoped to bring to Marseille.
Medhi Benatia, a product of Marseille’s youth academy who never played professionally for the first team, made a much-anticipated return to OM in 2023, tasked with building an ambitious new project. However, his tenure proved short-lived. Following a season plagued by difficulties at OM, the sporting director departed his role mere months after the exits of coach Roberto De Zerbi and president Pablo Longoria.
Benatia’s lingering connection to OM
Despite his official departure, whispers persist that Benatia maintains an active, behind-the-scenes role with OM. This alleged continued involvement is reportedly centered on a high-profile transfer saga: that of Mason Greenwood. The English winger is widely rumored to be on the verge of a move to AS Roma as the summer transfer window opens. While an agreement between Greenwood and the Italian club is reportedly in place, securing a deal between the two clubs remains the crucial hurdle. Marseille is reportedly holding out for a fee between €50 million and €55 million for the talented attacker, indicating complex negotiations ahead.
“I wanted to bring him to Marseille, but he was too expensive”
Meanwhile, Medhi Benatia keeps a keen eye on the 2026 World Cup, where a particular player he once coveted for OM is now showcasing his talents. This individual is Neil El Aynaoui, a Moroccan international who previously played for Nancy and RC Lens before joining AS Roma. Benatia, in an interview, lauded El Aynaoui as “a very robust player who combines both quality and quantity.” The former Marseille executive also expressed his puzzlement regarding El Aynaoui’s seemingly limited playing time at Roma, stating, “I didn’t understand why he played less at Roma than I anticipated. I had tried to bring him to Marseille, but he was simply too expensive.”
