Marseille’s Costly Gamble: Mbemba’s Hefty Salary Despite Zero Playing Time

Olympique de Marseille finds itself in a peculiar financial predicament, shelling out €270,000 to Chancel Mbemba, a 30-year-old Congolese defender who has yet to step onto the pitch for the club this season. This revelation comes amidst the team’s recent efforts to streamline their budget and enhance squad competitiveness.

In a bid to reduce wage expenses, Marseille orchestrated a significant overhaul during the summer transfer window. The club parted ways with several high-earning players, including notable names like Jordan Veretout, Jonathan Clauss, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, this transition proved to be less than smooth for some squad members.

A group of players, including Samuel Gigot, Veretout, and Mbemba, found themselves relegated to a separate training group, colloquially known as the ‘loft’, as the club sought potential transfers. While most of these players eventually secured moves elsewhere, Mbemba remained with the team.

Despite his return to first-team training, largely due to legal obligations, manager Roberto De Zebri has made it clear that Mbemba does not feature in his plans for the season. The center-back has been consistently left out of matchday squads, although he continues to represent his national team.

This standoff has not been without its tensions, including a suspension following a training ground incident. However, the situation appears to be nearing its conclusion, with Mbemba’s contract set to expire in June.

As Marseille continues to navigate this costly predicament, it serves as a stark reminder of the financial implications of squad management decisions in modern football.