OM have their first reinforcement of the winter in the person of Luiz Felipe, a 27-year-old central defender who will sign for 18 months. Five things to know about this experienced player.
«Luiz Felipe? We are very happy that he is arriving, he is a good player for us, in terms of his quality, his mentality. He is a very experienced player, used to playing in big clubs with big atmospheres. It will really bring us something, it’s a very beautiful thing for us.» Signed Roberto De Zerbi. Following OM's great success against Le Havre (5-1) on Sunday, the Italian coach has already welcomed the signing of defender Luiz Felipe, the Marseille club's first winter recruit.
It's not yet official, but it's only a matter of time: the person concerned has already set foot in Marseille. He should very quickly sign a contract until 2026 with the current second in the Ligue 1 standings. Here are five things to know about the 27-year-old player, who arrived from Al-Ittihad.
He rubbed shoulders with Laurent Blanc, Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté
After a season (2022-2023) spent in Spain, in the jersey of Betis Sevilla, Luiz Felipe joined – like many European players – Saudi Arabia and the Al-Ittihad club for the sum of 22 million euros in September 2023. The right-handed defender then became the teammate of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté. Before being trained this season by…Laurent Blanc, attracted in the off-season by the Saudi sirens. The only problem is that Luiz Felipe has only played one championship match since August under the orders of the former OM player and 1998 world champion. The reason? Recurrent physical problems in the thigh.
Binational and… a selection with Italy
Born on March 22, 1997 in Colina, in the suburbs of São Paulo in Brazil, Luiz Felipe has Brazilian and Italian nationality, thanks to his great-grandfather originally from Vicenza, in the North of La Botte in Veneto, then emigrated to South America. International with the Seleçao at youth level, the central defender finally decided to represent the A la Nazionale, with whom he only has one selection. It was June 14, 2022 during a heavy defeat (5-2) for the Italian selection in Germany, in the Nations League. He came on in the 44th minute in place of injured striker Matteo Politano.
A big experience in Europe… but injuries
In difficulty at the start of the season, the defense of Olympique de Marseille recovers on paper a reliable player, known to be skilled at restarting, solid in duels (1.87 m for 85 kg) and accustomed to evolving within a three-axial system. Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi will also count on the experience of his recruit, who has 28 Europa League and four Champions League matches played with Lazio Rome (2016-2022) then Betis Seville (2022-2023). The main doubt surrounding Luiz Felipe concerns injuries, the specialist site Transfer market recording 248 days of absence for muscular problems since signing for Al-Ittihad a year and a half ago.
Leadership at Lazio and… an atypical expulsion
It was (without doubt) Luiz Felipe's successful stint at Lazio (2016-2022) which convinced Roberto De Zerbi, former coach of Sassuolo in Serie A (2018-2021), to recruit him to OM. Arriving at the age of 18 in the Italian capital, the Italian-Brazilian defender established himself as an executive after returning from a one-year loan to Salernitana, in Serie B. He became a captain under the leadership of Simone Inzaghi then Maurizio Sarri, also distinguished by his strong character.
Illustration in 2021 during a Lazio-Inter Milan match won 3-1 by the Laziale. Very happy with the victory and roomy, Luiz Felipe celebrated his joy by jumping on the shoulders of Joaquin Correa, his friend player from… Inter, passed through the Roman club and then recruited last summer by… OM for a season. A provocative gesture which earned the Italian international a red card, leaving the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in tears.
Grandfather's tribute to Luiz Felipe Scolari
Finally, for the anecdote, Luiz Felipe Ramos Marchi, his real name, pays direct homage to Luiz Felipe Scolari, former Brazil coach in particular (2001-2002, 2012-2014). It was in fact the grandfather of the Marseille recruit, a football fan, who wanted to give him this name. And his grandson pays tribute to him by wearing the name “Ramos” of his maternal grandfather on the back of his jersey rather than “Luiz Felipe”.
