The Olympique de Marseille strengthened its defence with the arrival of Bejaimin Pavard on loan from Inter Milan. This French international player, World Champion 2018, joins OM with a purchase option of 16 million euros, a non-binding decision that offers the club financial flexibility. This strategy is part of a policy of strengthening the workforce while controlling spending, aimed at securing a quality player while assessing their integration. Pavard’s arrival, coupled with other defensive recruits like Aguard and Medina, demonstrates the club’s ambition to build a competitive team.

The excitement surrounding OM’s summer mercato was strongly commented by Daniel Riolo on RMC Sport. The columnist highlights the radical transformation of the team, with a completely rebuilt defense, questioning the place of the previous season’s players. He noted that the arrivals of Pavard, Aguard and Medina could redefine the defensive dynamics, but wondered about the relevance of this frenzy of recruitment at the end of mercato. Riolo recognizes the quality of new recruits, but warns that success will depend on factors other than the simple quality of players.

OM’s 2025 mercato, originally presented as a period of stability, has become a veritable whirlwind of arrivals and departures. With more than 12 recruits, a record for the club, OM invested more than 100 million euros, attracting large salaries and increasing the number of leads. This strategy, while aimed at strengthening the team, raises questions about the cohesion and adaptation of new recruits. Despite an initial methodical approach, OM accelerated its operations, notably after a defeat in Rennes and the Rabiot affair, in a desire to position itself for the Champions League. The effectiveness of this recruitment frenzy remains to be proven, given the failure rate of previous recruits.

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