Olympique de Marseille wants to retain central defender Nayef Aguerd until mid-December to feature in the crucial Ligue 1 clash against AS Monaco, the club’s sporting director Mehdi Benatia confirmed.
Benatia told French outlet RMC Sport on Tuesday that he hopes to keep both Aguerd and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang available until December 15.
He stressed that “all clubs are working” to allow their internationals to remain with their clubs before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on December 21.
Marseille faces two decisive fixtures in the lead-up to AFCON. The team plays Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on December 9, followed by a Ligue 1 showdown against Monaco on December 14.
The club currently sits third in Ligue 1, two points behind leaders Lens and one behind PSG, as it pursues the title and a spot in the Champions League round of 16.
Benatia emphasised the importance of these matches, saying, “Finishing in the top 24 of the Champions League is something we would like. The reward would be to still be in the C1 next year.”
Aguerd returned to action last Saturday against Toulouse after a three-week break caused by aggravated pubalgia.
The Moroccan international, like his compatriot Achraf Hakimi, missed the Atlas Lions’ friendly matches against Mozambique and Uganda on November 14 and 18 in Tangier, part of their AFCON 2025 preparations.
Marseille aims to manage its squad carefully, balancing the final domestic and European fixtures with player fitness ahead of the continental tournament.
Aguerd’s presence in the upcoming games is crucial for OM’s ambitions, both in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, as the club looks to consolidate its position and maintain momentum before losing key players to AFCON duty.
