The opening weekend of Ligue 1 has delivered its first dose of high drama, not on the pitch, but emphatically in the locker room. Following Olympique Marseille`s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Rennes, manager Roberto De Zerbi found himself grappling with an unprecedented internal conflict, leading to a stark comparison and immediate consequences for two key players.
A Volatile Start to the Season
The air at the Stade Vélodrome was already thick with frustration. Marseille, having conceded a late goal despite their opponents playing with ten men, saw their initial Ligue 1 fixture slip away. This kind of defeat, particularly at the season`s outset, often ignites heated exchanges. What transpired next, however, transcended typical post-match angst, evolving into a spectacle De Zerbi described with a rather colourful, albeit precise, analogy: “a bar fight.”
The Unfolding Scene: “Like an English Pub”
According to De Zerbi, the altercation between midfielder Adrien Rabiot and winger Jonathan Rowe was unlike anything he had witnessed in his extensive career. It wasn`t a mere shouting match; it was a physical confrontation, described vividly as “a fight in an English pub.” The manager recounted the chaotic scene, emphasizing its deeply unprofessional nature.
“It was a bar fight, in front of the sporting director, in front of the coach, with a team-mate on the ground [Darryl Bakola, who was suffering a medical emergency],” De Zerbi stated, his incredulity palpable. “It’s true that no teeth were broken during the fight, but it was a fight like I’ve never seen in all my years in football.”
The manager, known for his passion and intensity, admitted to being “lost for words” for the first time in his career. The presence of club bodyguards, typically tasked with external security, having to separate players from their own team, underscores the severity of the incident. It painted a picture of internal chaos that left the coach, by his own admission, profoundly shocked.
Immediate Repercussions: The Transfer List
In a swift and decisive move, both Rabiot and Rowe have been placed on Marseille`s transfer list. This immediate action signals the club`s uncompromising stance on discipline and internal cohesion. For any football club, maintaining a harmonious dressing room is paramount, and a public, physical altercation is a breach that few management teams would tolerate.
- Adrien Rabiot: Joined Marseille in September 2024, contributing ten goals and six assists in 32 appearances last season.
- Jonathan Rowe: Arrived from Norwich last summer, with three goals and four assists to his name for Marseille.
Both players have been significant contributors on the field, making their potential departure a significant blow to the team`s depth and attacking options. Yet, the message from the club seems clear: no individual performance justifies such a public display of indiscipline.
Veronique Rabiot`s “Betrayal” and the Greenwood Comparison
The narrative took another interesting turn with the intervention of Veronique Rabiot, Adrien`s notoriously protective mother and agent. She publicly decried the decision to list her son for transfer as a “betrayal,” drawing a controversial parallel to the signing of former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
Greenwood`s situation, involving serious charges that were later dropped, saw him eventually move from Manchester United. Rabiot`s mother suggested that if Greenwood could be offered a second chance, her son deserved similar consideration. This comparison, however, struck a sour note with De Zerbi, who swiftly dismissed her comments.
De Zerbi`s Resolute Stance
The Marseille manager did not mince words in his rebuttal to Rabiot`s mother. He highlighted his personal investment in Adrien, recalling his decision to make him captain and the “attention and affection” he had shown the player – “more than I did my own son,” he remarked with a touch of paternal exasperation. De Zerbi firmly rejected the comparison to Greenwood, underscoring the fundamental difference between private life issues and workplace misconduct.
“For Rabiot’s mother to say that we gave Greenwood a second chance, that’s crazy,” De Zerbi countered. “We’re talking about private life here. It’s not fair to talk about other people. We’re talking about a fight in a workplace.”
This firm response from De Zerbi reinforces the club`s position: the incident was a breach of professional conduct within the team environment, an issue entirely separate from the complex legal and personal challenges faced by other players in the football world. It underscores a manager`s prerogative to maintain order and professionalism within his squad, regardless of external pressures or comparisons.
What Next for Marseille?
The immediate future for Olympique Marseille looks uncertain, both on and off the pitch. Losing two impactful players, even if self-inflicted, will undoubtedly require strategic adjustments. More importantly, the incident and De Zerbi`s unflinching response send a clear message about the club`s values and expectations for player conduct. As the transfer window progresses, all eyes will be on how Marseille navigates this unexpected internal turbulence and whether the dramatic “bar fight” ultimately strengthens or destabilizes their season.
