What is happening between Azzedine Ounahi and Marseille?

Wednesday 16 July 2025 - 16:22

Moroccan international Azzedine Ounahi has returned to Olympique de Marseille after a season-long loan at Panathinaikos in Greece. But instead of reclaiming a spot in the first team, the 25-year-old midfielder has been sent to train with the reserve squad, raising serious questions about his future at the club.

Tensions between Ounahi and OM had already been high prior to his loan move. Now, after his return, the relationship appears to have worsened. Despite performing well in the Greek Super League, Marseille management has sidelined the Atlas Lion, suggesting they may be trying to push him toward the exit.

According to multiple French sources, OM had reached a transfer agreement with Spartak Moscow, but Ounahi turned it down. The Moroccan midfielder reportedly refused the move due to Russia’s ongoing exclusion from European competitions, and his ambition to play in La Liga or the Premier League remains unchanged.

The French newspaper L’Équipe reports that the club’s leadership—particularly Mehdi Benatia, former captain of the Moroccan national team and current director of football at OM—has grown frustrated with Ounahi’s repeated rejections of offers.

Though tensions are rising behind the scenes, Ounahi still has a valid contract until summer 2027, giving him every right to decline offers that don't align with his sporting goals. Despite media pressure and strained relations with club officials, he seems determined to wait for a more competitive and prestigious opportunity before making his next move.