According to a report from L’Équipe, a current anonymous player from Marseille has stated that former manager Roberto De Zerbi grew increasingly suspicious of Medhi Benatia and his associates during the 2024/25 season, due to worries about leaks from the dressing room.
The player suggested that De Zerbi feared that sensitive information was being repeatedly disclosed to outsiders by those affiliated with Marseille’s former sporting advisor.
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“De Zerbi quickly realized that Benatia and his circle were behind many of the leaks,” the player reportedly shared with L’Équipe. “The information consistently surfaced on the same websites and social media platforms.”
This anonymous player also indicated that some members of the Marseille squad believed that players who had fallen out of favor were often targeted through public leaks and unfavorable media portrayals.
“Whenever one of us was needed to be pushed out, they would suddenly face criticism on those same platforms,” the player allegedly mentioned.
The report states that tensions between De Zerbi and those close to Benatia escalated during the latter part of the season, leading to a significant breakdown in communication. The player further alleged that De Zerbi sought to distance certain individuals from the squad during training camps in Rome.
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These revelations are part of a larger investigation by L’Équipe into the internal dynamics at Marseille, which has also uncovered claims of paranoia, a toxic management culture, and rifts behind the scenes at the club.
Benatia is set to leave Marseille at the conclusion of this season, coinciding with the departure of former president Pablo Longoria, who resigned following De Zerbi’s exit.