Senegalese forward Mbaye Niang reveals why 2019 Marseille move collapsed

Mbaye Niang has opened up about the failed transfer that nearly took him to Olympique de Marseille in 2019, revealing how close he came to joining the Ligue 1 side before plans abruptly changed.

The Senegalese striker, currently without a club after a nomadic career across Europe and beyond, reflected on the summer of 2019 as a missed opportunity.

At the time, Niang had just lifted the Coupe de France with Rennes, defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final—a moment that cemented his reputation as a top-level forward in French football.

Speaking in an interview with Carré, the now 30-year-old explained that his move to Marseille had seemed all but certain. “I was already at OM in my head,” Niang recalled.

“My agent told me about the interest, and I immediately said, ‘Yes, I want to go.’ I even spoke to Olivier Létang and told him, ‘If this is really happening, I’m asking you to do me a favour—after everything we achieved together, especially beating PSG in the Coupe de France, help me make this move to OM.’ He assured me he wouldn’t stand in my way.”

Despite lucrative offers from elsewhere—including €10 million net from China and €5 million net from Qatar—Niang says his mind was made up.

“I had offers from all over the world, but there was only one thing I wanted: to go to Marseille,” he said.

However, the move never materialised. According to Niang, a change in sporting leadership at OM altered the club’s transfer plans. “In the meantime, Pablo Longoria arrived,” he continued. “Things were put on hold and eventually they went for Mitroglou. I didn’t really understand, but that’s football. It was supposed to be me.”

Niang’s comments suggest lingering confusion and frustration over the breakdown of the deal. While he attributes the change of course to Longoria’s arrival at the club, it is worth noting that Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou had in fact been signed by Marseille in 2017, two years prior to the events described by Niang.

Nevertheless, Niang remains convinced that his path was destined to lead him to the Stade Vélodrome, and he still reflects on the missed transfer as a turning point in his career. “It had to be me,” he said with a tone of resignation.

Though he never wore the famous white shirt of Marseille, Niang’s affection for the club remains evident. His revelation adds another layer to the complex world of football transfers—where timing, decisions, and changes behind the scenes can alter a player’s future in an instant.

For now, Niang continues his search for a new challenge, but the dream of playing for OM remains one of the great ‘what ifs’ of his career.