Henri Stambouli, the director of the training center at Olympique de Marseille, expresses the club’s interest in recruiting young players from Africa. Stambouli, who has experience coaching in Togo, highlights the talent and quality of players in Africa. However, he mentions the challenge posed by FIFA regulations, which prohibit the transfer of players before the age of 18.
Stambouli emphasizes the difficulty of competing with big European clubs that invest substantial sums, ranging from 100,000 to 1 million euros, in young talents from South America. He notes that Olympique de Marseille is currently focusing on the regional basin and maintaining a strong identity, as South American players are considered expensive. Financial constraints, exacerbated by the economic crisis, play a role in shaping the club’s recruitment strategy.
