Benatia comments on OM live three months after leaving, conflict of interest questioned

Medhi Benatia analyzed live Olympique de Marseille’s defeat at Beşiktaş (4-1) on Thursday evening, less than three months after leaving his position as the club’s director of football. A situation that sparked strong reactions in the journalistic community.

Recruited as a key figure for the 2026-2027 season alongside Walid Regragui, the former Marseille executive had already extensively discussed OM’s situation the previous Sunday on Canal Football Club. On Thursday, he was on air to comment on the Phocéens’ European trip to Turkey, notably expressing views on Bruno Genesio’s tactical choices — arguing that a three-man defense would provide greater stability — and on the individual shortcomings of a squad he had largely built himself.

Journalist Mathieu Grégoire, present on the FC Marseille set, was the first to point out the contradiction: “I find it strange that a sporting director who was still in post at a club less than three months ago goes to comment on a match or judge the performances of players he himself recruited, in a context that was very complicated at the end. It feels like a conflict of interest. I would have kept more distance from OM.” Grégoire added, not without irony: “Why not cover the Lyon match instead! There he’s talking about a match he’s somewhat responsible for.”

Alexandre Jacquin, journalist for La Provence, echoed the same sentiment on social media after the defeat in Turkey: “Can’t wait to hear Medhi Benatia comment on the consequences of the policy pursued by Medhi Benatia at OM.”

The question of professional restraint is all the more sensitive because Marseille’s current management must today manage the financial constraints inherited from the Pablo Longoria era, the period during which Benatia held his position. His consulting partner on the set, Mickaël Landreau, also pointed out the individual weaknesses of the Marseille players — players recruited, for the most part, under Benatia’s own supervision.