the treatment of Chancel Mbemba shocks in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Chancel Mbemba smiles again. However, the defender lost it a few months ago in Marseille. Recruited in 2022 by Pablo Longoria, the former FC Porto player was downgraded since he was sent to the Olympian loft during the summer. The residents of the Orange Vélodrome did not treat him as a traitor since they had warned him in June that he was no longer part of their plans and those of new coach Roberto De Zerbi. Knowing this, we imagined that the native of Kinshasa (13 goals in 85 games played at OM) would quickly find a base. Especially since he received even more lucrative offers than in Marseille, from Rennes then from Al-Shabab. But nothing happened as planned since the player demanded in particular that the Saudi club pay him, in addition to his salary and a signing bonus, a transfer fee of more than €3 million reserved for the OM we were told.

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Sent with the reserves, while continuing to receive his enormous salary, the 30-year-old footballer, visibly exhausted, ended up breaking down since he clashed during the summer with the right arm of Medhi Benatia (Ali Zarrak) . In fact, he refused to play with the Olympian reserve and did not hesitate to show him a finger in front of the stunned players of the pro 2 team. Laid off, Mbemba, who also refused to undergo a medical examination, has been in an impasse for several months now. For its part, OM, where his contract runs until June 2025, does not want to release him and does not intend to give a gift to an element who had already shown disrespect on several occasions last year according to RMC Sportparticularly towards certain managers or members of staff. While the possibility of him playing the entire season with the reserve seems inevitable, the legal commission of the Professional Football League was contacted in this matter. Thus, if it has been recognized that the Marseillais have respected the professional football charter throughout the transfer window and until the beginning of October, they will have to reintegrate it into the RDZ group after the international break according to The Team.

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A breath of fresh air in selection

While waiting to perhaps return to the professional group, Chancel Mbemba was selected by Sébastien Desarbre for the October gathering of the national team of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although he has not played this season for club, the defender still has the confidence of his coach. Last week, the Leopards coach spoke about the situation of the player with 85 caps. “If Chancel is selected, it is because he is fit to play. If that weren’t the case, he would be like everyone else. He has an athletic program. All players are operational in defense”he explained before the match against Tanzania on October 10. A meeting during which the OM player gained playing time.

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He was also decisive by finding the net with a headed goal (1-0). In the country, the media rejoiced after this comeback. But they also talked about his situation in recent days, like Voice of Congo. “Over time, the conflict between the Marseille club and its player takes on new dimensions. Today (last Tuesday) the Marseille media Provence reports that Chancel Mbemba has contacted the legal commission of the Professional Football League (LFP) against OM, in order to request a review of his situation after having been sidelined since the summer. This is just a new stage in this long series whose outcome seems uncertain. Very recently, the club also added its two cents to this matter.

Marseille is singled out

The media continues: “in fact, Marseille had notified the “demigod” of a financial sanction, yet another: the withholding of his salary spread over the entire period of his second layoff. It should be noted that OM suspects an injury to the player’s left knee, forcing him to undergo a series of medical examinations which the latter refuses. However, the post-truce period will be decisive in this matter. Remember that the professional football charter requires OM to reinstate the player. The question arises: will Mbemba really be reintegrated into the professional group of the team and play? Contacted by us, Laetitia Dembo, journalist at Congolese National Radio Television is also bothered by the treatment reserved for the player.

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“Mbemba’s situation at OM has really been exaggerated. It was hard on him since he doesn’t really know how to express himself in French, which is why the affair dragged on at the club (in relation to his conflicts with the managers, editor’s note). The League even supported him in this matter, which proves that OM is doing far too much in this matter. And I don’t understand why he doesn’t play with Marseille, he has always performed well in central defense.” Like her, Claude Le Roy, who knows the player well, is also shocked by OM’s attitude. “It’s incredible to reach such a situation. Chancel is someone who is extremely easy to manage, who is always ready to give everything. This behavior of OM towards him is unworthy. It even surprises me from someone like Pablo Longoria, such an attitude. Or it means that all that matters is money and that people are completely forgotten. »

DRC fans attack OM

For his part, RFIwho believes that the conflict has gone so far that reconciliation seems almost impossible, evokes the anger of Leopards fans regarding the situation of their captain. “Unconditional fans of the “demi-god” have now initiated the “Braking Committee” on social networks. Objective of this slogan: attack OM in all possible ways and pray for the loss of the Olympian club that they now dream of seeing in Ligue 2.writes the radio, which also shared the feeling of Jonathan Masiala, journalist at Congolese radio Top FM. “People who walk around with OM jerseys are almost insulted in Kinshasa now. Fans are unsubscribing en masse from the Marseille club’s social networks. Chancel Mbemba’s situation is seen as an injustice.”

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But he can count on the support of his country, where his presence is obvious to all. This is what Laetitia Dembo told us. “Even if he doesn’t play, so far I think he has his place in the selection because the new players need his expertise. It’s the captain. But he must already be preparing for his retirement within 2 years I think. The last match, he performed very well with the DRC. He is indifferent to his situation with Marseille. We feel that he always gives the best of himself to also prove that he is in good shape. He will still have the opportunity to prove it tomorrow at 3 p.m. during the match against Tanzania, as part of the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations. Then, it will be time to return to Marseille and try to sort things out with OM. Which is no easy feat after so many adventures and in a club where the managers constantly insist that no player is above the institution.