OM eyes homegrown left‑wing solution as Genesio backs 19‑year‑old Mmadi

Under the floodlights of the Vélodrome, the OM coaching staff gathered around a 19‑year‑old prospect as Bruno Genesio outlined his plan to replace departing Brazilian winger Igor Paixao on the left flank. The meeting came after the club confirmed the Brazilian’s exit and signaled a shift toward home‑grown talent.

Internal promotion plan

The offensive midfielder Tadjidine Mmadi, 19, is being earmarked by the OM staff as the logical relay for Igor Paixao on the left wing. His profile fits the left‑wing profile that the Club must fill after the Brazilian’s departure.

Selon L’Équipe, the youngster convinced Bruno Genesio during the summer preparation, earning substantial minutes in the series of friendly matches that followed. The coach’s decision to grant him consistent game time signals a genuine belief in his ability to step up this season.

Rather than rush to the market for a new signing, the Club has opted for an internal solution, hoping the youth will complement the core of fifteen potential starters and avoid recruiting backups for the position. The strategy also aims to integrate the youth into the fifteen‑player core, reducing the need for immediate external recruitment.

Season opener opportunity

The Marseillais will launch their Ligue 1 campaign on Friday evening, hosting RC Strasbourg at the Vélodrome from 20:45. The match, scheduled for 20:45, will be the first test of the new left‑side arrangement.

Pour Mmadi, that opening fixture could already represent his first chance to demonstrate that he can assume the responsibilities left by Paixao, and Genesio appears ready to hand him a meaningful role. Should he perform, the youngster could cement his place in the starting eleven as the season progresses.

It remains to be seen whether this confidence will translate into immediate impact once the official competition begins, but the plan underscores OM’s belief in nurturing home talent. If the trust materialises, it could set a precedent for future internal promotions within the Club.

Selon L’Équipe, no youth profile has yet been identified to integrate into the eleven in the short term, but the club intends to rely on these youngsters to complete the core of fifteen potential starters, thereby avoiding the recruitment of backups for certain positions.