Transfer window frozen at OM: Djellit calls on McCourt to save Paixao

Olympique de Marseille approaches the second day of Ligue 1 at Monaco in a critical financial situation: despite nearly 70 million euros already recovered during the summer transfer window, the Phocaean club remains unable to register any arrivals without proceeding with new departures before the market closes on September 1st.

New sporting director Grégory Lorenzi laid out the diagnosis bluntly. “The equation is very simple. Even if we sell a player, we won’t be allowed to register an arrival. Concretely, it would take several departures for us to make an arrival. I don’t know if people understand the situation,” said the former Brest executive on Friday.

In this context, players like Amine Gouiri, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg or Igor Paixao — Marseille’s standout performer in summer preparation — could leave the club by Monday. It is precisely this scenario that journalist Nabil Djellit wanted to prevent by addressing American owner Frank McCourt directly on L’Équipe du Soir.

“Frank, I have two words for you. I know it’s been complicated these past years for you… I know you got ripped off by Pablo Longoria. But I’m going to ask you for one last effort,” Djellit said, before concluding: “No short-termism, McCourt! Trust Lorenzi and Genesio. Do everything so that Paixao stays, and you’ll see that you might get much better results than with those who sold you dreams.”

OM travel to Monaco this weekend for the second day of Ligue 1, in a context where every potential departure weighs as much on the sporting and symbolic level on the start of the season for Bruno Genesio’s men.