In an interview with beIN Sports, Medhi Benatia shared some behind-the-scenes information from OM’s last summer transfer window. The sports advisor of the Marseille club explained in particular how he convinced Roberto De Zerbi and Pierre-Emile Hojberg to join the Bouches-du-Rhône.
OM has had a new face since the last summer transfer window. After a difficult season punctuated by eighth place, the Marseille club has made an ambitious recruitment, starting with the arrival on the bench of Roberto De Zerbi. In an interview with BeIN Sports, Medhi Benatia explained how he convinced the Italian technician.
Roberto De Zerbi was staying for two seasons at Brighton and his name was mentioned for clubs like Bayern Munich. “When we saw that he was in the process of cancelling, we made inquiries. Pablo (Longoria) was already on very good terms with the manager’s agent. He had tried to bring him in before. I went a bit cheeky, I picked up my phone and called him,” Benatia confided. “I said to him: ‘Listen Roberto, I have to talk to you, there is this project there. I know it seems a bit crazy today but I just ask you to listen to me’…”
Roberto De Zerbi received the call from OM’s sports advisor with “great respect” and “great humility”, according to Benatia. “We had a discussion that was very transparent, it lasted a very long time”, indicated the former defender, who notably played for Juventus. “I explained to him a little bit about my way of working, how I saw this club and where we were today because I couldn’t lie to him.”
Benatia knew that De Zerbi “loved” OM
Trained by OM, Medhi Benatia had never played with the first team and left the club in 2008. The former Moroccan international returned in November 2023, in an advisory role. “I told him: ‘There is work to be done. Everything needs to be changed and we need to give this club and this team an identity again. We need to bring character,’ added Benatia, returning to his call with De Zerbi.
Medhi Benatia had another ace up his sleeve since he knew that the coach “loved” OM. “When you know him personally, you know that he is not attracted by money,” shared the 37-year-old. “He is passionate, he needs such a context with real people around him. It was the real start of this project, it was this strong link that makes everything easier.”
“Hojbjerg improves others”
Among the various recruits who arrived at the Vélodrome this summer, Medhi Benatia was reunited with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, whom he had worked alongside as a youngster at Bayern Munich. “He was a bit like my little boy. I really liked this youngster who was a bit fiery and combative,” said the man who wore the Bavarian jersey between 2014 and 2017.
As early as January, the management had already tried to get Højbjerg back from Tottenham. His name became a “priority” during the last transfer window. “He’s the one who makes the others better for me,” Benatia added, emphasizing his qualities on and off the pitch. “He was already like that at Bayern at 18.”
