Marseille President Pablo Longoria recently reaffirmed his stance on Adrien Rabiot`s departure, telling La Provence he holds “no regrets” despite the significant disruption caused by the midfielder`s exit this summer.
On the eve of OM’s Champions League match against Real Madrid, Longoria acknowledged that Rabiot`s unexpected exit necessitated a “change of strategy” during the final phase of the transfer window.
“When you are firmly convinced that the club`s structure requires decisions to be respected, there are no regrets,” Longoria stated. “The situation itself is unfortunate because no one wishes to reach a point of no return, especially with a player of such importance. However, adhering to your principles allows for peace of mind.”
Rabiot`s departure, which followed public criticism of Longoria and sporting director Mehdi Benatia by his mother-agent, Véronique, was a defining moment for Marseille`s summer. Longoria characterized the episode as “extraordinary” from an external perspective but maintained that he had always been prepared. “Our initial intention was certainly to retain Adrien. Yet, once circumstances shifted, we had to determine how to maintain our competitiveness for the Champions League. This involved acquiring new midfield talents and strengthening our defensive line.”
These new additions made a strong impact during Marseille`s recent 4-0 victory over Lorient, with Benjamin Pavard and Nayef Aguerd successfully marking their debuts for the club. Marseille is now set to face a challenging Champions League opener in Madrid before a highly anticipated clash against Paris Saint-Germain this weekend.
