Olympique de Marseille’s pursuit of Himad Abdelli has become increasingly uncertain, with the club’s hierarchy acknowledging that a January move may now prove difficult despite clear mutual interest.
Speaking after the club confirmed the winter arrivals of Ethan Nwaneri and Quinten Timber, Marseille’s director of football Medhi Benatia addressed the wider state of the transfer window and offered a candid assessment of negotiations surrounding the Algerian midfielder.
While confirming Marseille’s admiration for the player, Benatia made it clear that financial considerations remain a decisive obstacle.
“Abdelli is a player we really like, who has shown a lot of commitment to coming here,” Benatia said. He was, however, quick to underline the limits of the club’s position.
“We have to be consistent about the player’s value. For now, we haven’t reached an agreement. Perhaps he’ll arrive in July.”
The comments highlight Marseille’s determination to balance ambition with restraint, even when a target appears keen on the move.
Abdelli, who has impressed consistently with Angers SCO, is viewed as a profile well suited to Marseille’s midfield needs, but the Ligue 1 side are unwilling to exceed their valuation in order to secure a deal this winter.
Benatia stressed that discussions have been conducted in a respectful and transparent manner, pointing to the strong relationship between the two clubs.
“There are very good relations between our president and the president of Angers. Pablo (Longoria) tried to be classy and anticipated the discussions. But we have to remain realistic about the amount,” he explained.
Beyond the financial aspect, Benatia also outlined why Abdelli is so highly regarded within the Marseille set-up. “He’s a very good player who perfectly fits the profile we’re looking for in midfield: very technical, capable of playing on the ground and in both positions as a box-to-box midfielder or number 10,” he said.
The versatility and technical quality described have made Abdelli a priority target, even if a deal cannot be concluded immediately.
Marseille’s plans, however, are not limited to a single option. Benatia confirmed that alternatives remain under consideration should negotiations fail to progress.
“We’re in discussions with the player, we’ll see what happens, but we’re not ruling out the arrival of another player in midfield either,” he added.
As the transfer window progresses, the Abdelli situation remains unresolved. Marseille continue to monitor developments closely, aware that patience could be rewarded if a move is postponed until the summer, when the player would be available without a transfer fee.
For now, the club appears committed to its cautious strategy, prioritising long-term stability over short-term compromise.
🚨 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗛𝗜 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗔 🇲🇦 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗡𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗥 𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗩𝗘́ 𝗗’𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗣𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗜 🇩🇿 ! ❌
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