Olympique de Marseille (OM) has officially announced the signing of Rafidine Abdullah on his first three-year professional contract. However, due to competition from players like Togolese Alaixys Romao and Englishman Joey Barton, it’s possible that Abdullah may be loaned out in the upcoming season to gain more playing time.
According to OM’s sporting director, José Anigo, the idea is to potentially loan the young midfielder to a Ligue 1 club that might offer more playing opportunities compared to the competitive environment at Marseille. Anigo highlighted the potential for Abdullah to gain experience and develop by playing regularly.
Anigo mentioned on the official OM website, “It’s a question, but he could have more playing time even if it will also depend on the squad we have. We will see in the weeks to come but he has great potential and, like what Porto or Benfica can do, rather than leaving his young people on the bench, we lend them to get tougher and come back a year later.”
This approach is in line with strategies employed by other clubs, such as Porto and Benfica, where young talents are loaned out to gain valuable experience and playing time before returning to the parent club. It reflects a commitment to player development and maximizing the potential of young talents within the footballing ecosystem.
