Marseille’s scouting beats finances but loses Athekame to Lyon

Olympique de Marseille’s transfer window has been marked by two opposite realities: the club’s scouting staff have pinpointed promising players, yet financial limits have forced them to abandon deals, the most tangible example being Zachary Athekame’s loan move to Lyon after Marseille’s bid fell through.

In L’Équipe du jour, Grégory Lorenzi disclosed a very concrete example: Zachary Athekame, who ultimately signed for Lyon. Genesio and Lorenzi had already been in contact with the player, and the Marseille sporting director said he had been identified and approached.

« The coach got him, I got him, we held video calls with other players, but it was not possible to continue », he recounted. The inability to proceed forced Marseille to abandon the pursuit.

Financial ceiling halts deal

Marseille had begun working on Athekame’s dossier before its economic limits shut the door. The club’s budget constraints ultimately prevented the completion of the transfer.

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Athekame subsequently joined Lyon on a loan from AC Milan. The move illustrates how Marseille’s scouting succeeded but financial realities did not.

Lorenzi describes the episode as a concrete illustration of his frustration since arriving in Marseille. He has been unable to deliver the recruitment he envisioned.

Doors may reopen later

He stresses that a failed deal does not permanently close a door. Lorenzi says he always informs agents when Marseille cannot finalise a move, noting some dossiers may resurface years later.

The Athekame case epitomises the paradox of Marseille’s last transfer window: the club could identify and convince players but not secure them. The earlier Tanguy Ndombélé episode showed Lorenzi could reach an agreement without the necessary financial margin.