Reports from France suggest that Roberto De Zerbi is on the brink of stepping down as the manager of Marseille this week.
De Zerbi, who has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Manchester United managerial position, finds himself under mounting pressure after Marseille’s disappointing early exit from the Champions League.
Following a crushing 5-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, Marseille now trails by three points in the race for automatic Champions League qualification in Ligue 1.
There is significant frustration from De Zerbi regarding his players’ lackluster attitude, particularly after a 3-0 loss to Club Brugge and the heavy defeat by Luis Enrique’s PSG, as reported.
According to RMC Sport, an interim manager is anticipated to take charge when Marseille faces Strasbourg on Saturday, with a formal decision on De Zerbi’s departure expected imminently.
Roberto De Zerbi is set to leave his role as Marseille manager this week, according to reports
The French side have been embroiled in crisis following their shock Champions League exit
De Zerbi took the helm at Marseille in June 2024 after spending two seasons managing Brighton in the Premier League.
He guided the club to second in Ligue 1 in his first season in charge, securing a return to Europe’s top table, but has endured a disappointing second campaign.
Marseille have been embroiled in crisis since crashing out of the Champions League in the first stage of the competition.
There had been reports De Zerbi would be axed after sporting director Medhi Benatia warned there would be ‘consequences’ following the dismal loss to Club Brugge.
The Italian continued, despite a reported threat of resignation, but the writing appears to have been on the wall in recent weeks.
‘I really wanted to come to Marseille,’ he said when asked about him quitting the club.
‘That’s the truth. There’s also the element of responsibility. I was taught to take responsibility. I’m telling you, the club, we played a bad match, that’s all.
‘I don’t know if I’m the ideal coach for OM. From a results standpoint, we’ve done some good things. But there’s this lack of consistency.’
De Zerbi recently heaped praise on Mason Greenwood in a gushing speech about the star
Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that De Zerbi has admirers at Man United with the club looking for a new head coach in the summer.
He was interviewed by Ineos in May 2024 and considered a leading contender to replace Erik ten Hag before the appointment of Ruben Amorim.
De Zerbi is believed to be interested in a return to the Premier League and has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur.
His final weeks in France have come amid a crisis involving key figures such as Benatia, who has reportedly been incensed by Marseille star Mason Greenwood.
Benatia and the former Man United winger are said to openly ignore one another whenever they cross paths, with the sporting director often a vocal critic of the 24-year-old both on and off the pitch, according to L’Equipe.
Benatia is thought to have been angry that Greenwood shirked a commercial responsibility last summer with little concerns for the repercussions.
De Zerbi however publicly backed Greenwood in a gushing speech, claiming his player has become ‘world-class’ after building on ‘what his mother and father taught him’.
The former United forward, 24, left Old Trafford under controversial circumstances in the summer of 2024 but has since revived his career under De Zerbi, proving an integral part of his first team.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault while playing at United, which led to him being banished from the squad and dropped by England’s national team.
Charges were eventually dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement, but Greenwood remained in exile at Manchester United before eventually being sold for £26.7million to Marseille.
