As the opening match of the Ligue 1 against Rennes approached, Marseille Olympian coach Roberto De Zerbi confirmed that the mercato was not yet finished, with arrivals and departures expected before the market closed. Despite a general satisfaction with the current workforce, De Zerbi insists on the need to remain realistic and vigilant about the future deadlines, while stressing an improvement in the team’s competitiveness. He welcomed the retention of key players such as Baleard, Rulli, Rabiot, Højbjerg and Greenwood, while anticipating departures for some elements on the margins. The interest in Edon Zhegrov (Lille) is mentioned, but De Zerbi kicked in, stating that it was not one of his players and that he would only express himself if the operation was carried out.

For this first game of the 2025-2026 season, OM should line up an eleven including, for the first time, Angel Gomes and the return of Amine Gouiriau. The De Zerbi team will have to deal with the absence of Facundo Medina (suspension) and Igor Paixão (injury), but the coach seems satisfied with the current composition. This game represents a first big test for both teams, Rennes wishing a good start in front of its audience and OM seeking to confirm its summer preparation and display its game principles.

Roberto De Zerbi highlighted the difficulty of finding a club comparable to OM, and was pleased to have kept his key players. He relativized the presence of players he knows well, like Valentin Rongier and Quentin Merlin, now in Rennes, considering that there are no more secrets in football. He warned that the game would be difficult for both teams, while expressing his confidence in his team’s ability to compete this season.