Olympique de Marseille have officially confirmed today that football director Medhi Benatia will leave the club, with his departure taking effect on Monday. The announcement brings an end to an intense spell for the former Morocco international in Marseille’s sporting leadership.
Benatia’s exit had been expected, but the club has now made it official as part of a broader reshuffle behind the scenes. He arrived in 2023 and took on a key role as football director, but his time at the club comes to a close after what has been described internally as a demanding and complicated season.
Interestingly, Benatia had already submitted his resignation back in February. However, at the request of owner Frank McCourt, he agreed to stay on until the end of the campaign to ensure continuity and help manage the transition period.
Now a free agent, his next destination could be Saudi Arabia, with reports strongly linking him to the Saudi Pro League. Al-Ittihad are said to consider him a top priority for a senior sporting director role.
Lorenzi expected to step in
Marseille are already preparing for the next chapter, with Grégory Lorenzi expected to take over the role. The 42-year-old has built a strong reputation over a decade at Stade Brestois, where he helped guide the club from Ligue 2 to a historic qualification for the Champions League.
Once in place, Lorenzi will immediately face major decisions. Among the first priorities will be the future of head coach Habib Beye, whose departure is increasingly being discussed internally. He will also be tasked with reshaping the squad under tight financial constraints, as Marseille prepare for a significant summer rebuild.
This change is another reset for OM, who continue to restructure their sporting project in search of stability and long-term direction.
Read also: Benatia Is Leading Candidate to Become Al Ittihad’s Director of Football
