Nice sues Marseille over controversial Lorenzi recruitment

OGC Nice has officially filed a lawsuit against Olympique de Marseille and sporting director Grégory Lorenzi at the employment tribunal over the dispute surrounding his recruitment by the Marseille club. A first hearing is expected in September.

At the heart of the dispute: Lorenzi, after ten years at Brest, signed a pre-contract with Nice before reconsidering and joining OM. A decision that deeply irritated the Nice leadership.

“He had signed his contract and then he changed his mind along the way,” said Maurice Cohen, Nice’s president, at the presentation of new head coach Olivier Pantaloni. “Today, the club wants to be respected and not give anything away,” he added.

According to La Provence, the proceedings have been expanded to target OM directly, beyond just Lorenzi as an individual. The newspaper assures, however, that the new Marseille management is approaching this matter with serenity and is not particularly concerned about it.

This legal episode adds to an already busy off-season for OM, which has recently had to navigate between the requirements of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body and those of the French Football Federation’s National Financial Control Department.