Genesio ready to quit OM if Paixao joins Sunderland

Bruno Genesio is threatening to leave Olympique de Marseille if the club sells Igor Paixao to Sunderland, according to multiple concordant sources. With the two clubs reportedly close to an agreement at €35 million, the newly appointed OM coach has reportedly issued an ultimatum to management.

OM’s financial situation is forcing the club to sell this summer to meet DNCG requirements. Frank McCourt, the principal shareholder, reportedly approved the principle of selling Paixao — signed a year ago for €35 million from Feyenoord Rotterdam — after failed transfers of Nayef Aguerd to Real Sociedad and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg to Newcastle. Sunderland initially submitted an offer of €25 million, rejected by Marseille, before negotiations resumed around a figure of €35 million, bonuses included.

Genesio, however, considers the Brazilian winger untransferable. The former Lyon manager, who only recently took up his position, sees Paixao as one of the pillars of his attacking project alongside Amine Gouiri. “Bruno Genesio is putting monstrous pressure to keep Igor Paixao. This could go very far,” declared journalist Sacha Tavolieri, clarifying that the clubs remain close to a total agreement but that several factors — including the coach’s position — still stand in the way.

The situation is all the more tense as Paixao has reportedly already reached a contractual agreement with the Black Cats. Other Marseille sources confirm internal unease: Genesio would be prepared to clash with his hierarchy and resign if his best attacking asset were to leave the club.

This standoff comes nonetheless after an encouraging start to the season: OM thrashed Strasbourg 4-0 last Friday at the Vélodrome. But the structural crisis at the Phocaean club, torn between financial imperatives and sporting ambitions, now places Genesio facing a choice that management had probably not anticipated so soon.