With all eyes currently fixed on the 2026 World Cup unfolding across the American continent, former Olympique de Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia remains keenly observant. Fresh from a tumultuous period at the French club, Benatia had expressed a strong desire to secure a promising international talent during his tenure.
It was a compelling narrative: Medhi Benatia, a product of Marseille’s youth academy who never played professionally for the club, returned in 2023 with the ambition of building an impressive project. However, his time as sporting director proved short-lived. He departed his position merely months after Roberto De Zerbi and Pablo Longoria, following what was widely regarded as a catastrophic season for Olympique de Marseille.
Benatia’s continued influence at OM
Despite his official departure, Medhi Benatia’s connection to Olympique de Marseille appears to persist. Reports suggest he continues to work behind the scenes for the club, particularly concerning a major ongoing transfer saga. This notably involves Mason Greenwood, who is reportedly nearing a move to AS Roma as the summer transfer window opens. While an agreement is said to be in place between the player and the Italian club, the crucial step of finalizing terms between the two clubs remains. This negotiation is proving complex, with Marseille reportedly demanding a substantial fee of between €50M and €55M for the English winger.
“I tried to bring him to Marseille, but he was too expensive”
Meanwhile, Medhi Benatia maintains a watchful eye on the 2026 World Cup, where a particular player he once hoped to recruit for Olympique de Marseille is currently featuring. This talent is Neil El Aynaoui, a Moroccan international who previously played for Nancy and RC Lens before joining AS Roma. “He is a very solid player because he combines quality and quantity,” the former Marseille figure revealed in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I didn’t understand why he played less at Roma than I expected. I had tried to bring him to Marseille, but he was too expensive.”
