Roberto De Zerbi LEAVES Marseille: Man United target departs Ligue 1 side ‘devastated at the attitude of his players’ – and puts Premier League clubs on alert

Roberto De Zerbi has left Marseille with immediate effect, the Ligue 1 club have announced.

The Italian, who has been linked with the Manchester United job, had been under increasing pressure following the French side’s humiliating exit from the Champions League at the hands of Club Brugge.

Marseille were then thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday to leave them three points adrift of the automatic Champions League places in Ligue 1.

According to French outlet RMC Sport, the 46-year-old took training on Tuesday and held talks with his players and club bosses before deciding he could not continue in the role.

De Zerbi is said to have been ‘devastated’ at the attitude of his players and lack of desire to bounce back following the 3-0 defeat by Brugge and the mauling at the hands of Luis Enrique’s side.

‘Following discussions between all stakeholders in the club’s management – the owner, president, director of football, and coach – it was decided to make a change at the helm of the first team,’ Marseille said in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Marseille were dumped out the Champions League with a 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge last month

‘This was a difficult collective decision, taken after careful consideration in the best interests of the club, in order to respond to the sporting challenges of the end of the season.

‘Olympique de Marseille would like to thank Roberto De Zerbi for his dedication, commitment, professionalism, and seriousness, which were particularly evident in the team’s second-place finish in the 2024/25 season.

‘The club wishes him all the best for the rest of his career.’

It is thought the French side will install an interim boss for their match this weekend against Gary O’Neil’s Strasbourg. 

De Zerbi was appointed Marseille boss in June 2024 following two years in the Premier League with Brighton.

He guided the club to second in Ligue 1 in his first season in charge, securing a return to Europe’s top table, but has endured a disappointing second campaign.

Marseille have been embroiled in crisis since crashing out of the Champions League in the first stage of the competition.

There had been reports De Zerbi would be axed after sporting director Medhi Benatia warned there would be ‘consequences’ following the dismal loss to Brugge. He continued, but the writing was on the wall.

The Italian boss is said to have been ‘devastated’ at how his players reacted to poor results

Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that De Zerbi has admirers at Man United with the club looking for a new head coach in the summer.

He was interviewed by Ineos in May 2024 and considered a leading contender to replace Erik ten Hag before the appointment of Ruben Amorim.

De Zerbi is believed to be interested in a return to the Premier League and has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur.

His final weeks in France came amid a crisis involving key figures such as Benatia, who has reportedly been incensed by Marseille winger Mason Greenwood.

Benatia and the former Man United winger are said to openly ignore one another whenever they cross paths, with the sporting director often a vocal critic of the 24-year-old both on and off the pitch, according to L’Equipe.

Benatia is thought to have been angry that Greenwood shirked a commercial responsibility last summer with little concerns for the repercussions.

De Zerbi, however, publicly backed Greenwood, claiming his player has become ‘world-class’ after building on ‘what his mother and father taught him‘.

The former United forward, 24, left Old Trafford under controversial circumstances in the summer of 2024 but revived his career under De Zerbi, proving an integral part of his first team.

Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault while playing at United, which led to him being banished from the squad and dropped by England’s national team.

Charges were eventually dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement, but Greenwood remained in exile at Manchester United before eventually being sold for £26.7million to Marseille.