The Olympique de Marseille made an express mercato by offering the services of Benjamin Pavard, French international defender from Inter Milan. This transfer, completed on Monday evening, took shape after an acceleration of negotiations following the failure of the tracks towards Joel Ordóñez and Lutsharel Geertruida. The initiative of Medhi Benatia was decisive to convince Pavard, by presenting him with the Marseille project and the game system of Roberto De Zerbi, which corresponded perfectly to his versatility. The agreement between the two clubs was concluded at EUR 15 million, with a paid loan and a purchase option. For Pavard, this return to Ligue 1 represents an opportunity to regain visibility after nine years abroad and to recover in a competitive environment, with the prospect of the World Cup 2026.

At the same time, OM also strengthened its midfield with the arrival of Matt O’Riley, a Norwegian offensive medium lent by Brighton & Hove Albion. This 24-year-old player is known for his vision of the game, his forward passes, his finish and his potential at the penalty strike. It is versatile and can be numbered 10 or double pivot, and has grown steadily during his season in Brighton, where he has won the title. Its full profile, including good dry cleaning and mobility in small spaces, is seen as a real opportunity for OM, which seeks to find a player capable of bringing in several registers.

Finally, the show “Debat Foot Marseille” analysed live the last hours of the mercato, notably the defeat of OM in Lyon. The program, broadcast on the YouTube channel Foot Club in Marseille, allowed to revisit the issues of mercato and evaluate new recruits, such as Pavard and O’Riley. The analysis of a former club player highlighted the potential of these arrivals to strengthen the team and achieve the goals set by Roberto De Zerbi, while highlighting the challenges to be met in order to fully integrate into the Marseille project.