Reports from Foot Mercato indicate that Joël Ordoñez, the 21-year-old defender, deliberately missed Club Brugge`s training session on Monday. This action is understood to be a direct attempt to force through his transfer to French Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille.
Marseille has been active in the transfer market this summer, already securing CJ Egan-Riley and Facundo Medina. However, the club is still keen to further strengthen its central defense. Ordoñez has been a prominent target throughout the current transfer window, although a potential deal recently encountered a significant obstacle.
According to sources, including Sacha Tavolieri, Marseille had met Club Brugge`s financial demands, offering €25 million upfront plus an additional €5 million in performance-related add-ons. Despite this agreement on the fee, the Belgian side unexpectedly reversed its decision, choosing not to sell the centre-back. This turn of events has reportedly left Ordoñez highly frustrated, leading him to take the drastic step of skipping training in a determined bid to secure his move to the Vélodrome stadium.
In a development that could be seen as positive for Marseille, Club Brugge has reportedly begun the process of identifying potential replacements for the Ecuadorian defender in recent hours. This move may signal a shift in their stance and could potentially open the door for Ordoñez`s departure.