Official : De Zerbi committed to Olympique Marseille in 2025-26 despite Milan and Juventus links

BRADFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 3: Roberto De Zerbi manager of Olympique Marseille during the pre-season friendly match between Sunderland and Olympique Marseille at University of Bradford Stadium on August 3, 2024 in Bradford, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Olympique Marseille released a formal statement today confirming that Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi will remain next season, despite links with Roma, Milan, Juventus and Tottenham.

The former Sassuolo, Benevento, Shakhtar Donetsk and Brighton tactician took charge of Marseille last summer and it was not always an easy process for him in France.

Nonetheless, he took Marseille to second place in Ligue 1 and consequent qualification for the Champions League, only behind Paris Saint-Germain.

There had been multiple reports that numerous clubs were interested in poaching De Zerbi for next season, including a return to Serie A for Roma, Milan or Juventus.

Tottenham Hotspur and Bayer Leverkusen had also been linked with a potential approach for the Italian.

De Zerbi is staying at Marseille

However, this evening Olympique Marseille released a formal statement assuring he would continue.

“Frank Mccourt, Pablo Longoria, Medhi Benatia and Roberto De Zerbi are fully committed to a consolidated project,” read the statement.

“This week, owner Frank McCourt and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Jeff Ingram welcomed President Pablo Longoria, Director of Football Medhi Benatia, coach Roberto De Zerbi and his advisor Giovanni Rossi to the United States for a working meeting to conclude a 2024-2025 season marked by the achievement of the major objective: Champions League qualification.

“The two days of discussions consolidated and reaffirmed the unity of the management team around a shared vision, essential to the long-term viability of the project launched in the summer of 2024.”

It confirmed that they are preparing for the 2025-26 season “with the full commitment and alignment of all the club’s directors, determined to meet the exciting challenges ahead, first and foremost that of establishing the club in the Champions League on a permanent basis, season after season.”