Marseille’s missed opportunity: Houssem Aouar opted for Al-Ittihad over Ligue 1 return

Olympique de Marseille explored the possibility of signing Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar last summer, but the 26-year-old ultimately secured a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad before negotiations with the French side could progress.

A Move That Never Materialised

Aouar, who joined AS Roma in 2023, endured a challenging spell in Italy and was one of Marseille’s key transfer targets during the summer window.

However, while the Ligue 1 club expressed interest, the midfielder had already advanced in talks with Al-Ittihad, finalizing his move before any concrete discussions could take place with Marseille.

A source close to the player revealed to L’Équipe that Marseille’s management was aware of Aouar’s openness to a move but were ultimately too late in making their approach.

“We learned that OM were interested in Houssem and that they had contacted Roma, but by then, his transfer to Al-Ittihad was already well underway,” the source confirmed.

Algerian International Left Out of World Cup Qualifiers

Aouar’s move to the Saudi Pro League has not translated into an international call-up, as he was notably absent from Algeria’s squad for the latest round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

His omission has raised questions about his standing with the national team and whether his career trajectory aligns with the expectations placed on him after his early promise at Lyon.

Despite speculation about his long-term ambitions, Aouar himself has not publicly commented on his decision to join Al-Ittihad over a potential return to France.

Uncertain Future for the Midfielder

With his time at Roma proving disappointing and his national team future unclear, Aouar’s next steps remain uncertain.

Whether his move to Saudi Arabia provides the resurgence he needs or limits his opportunities at the highest level remains to be seen.

For now, Marseille can only reflect on what might have been had they moved sooner.