According to Pape Diouf, who was the president of Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the time, Brazilian defender Alex could have joined OM during the 2008–2009 season. Diouf expressed regret about the missed opportunity in an interview on lephocéen.fr.
Diouf revealed that an agreement had been reached with Peter Kenyon, the then CEO of Chelsea, to sign Alex. However, due to financial concerns and the illness of Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the majority shareholder of OM, the deal fell through. Louis-Dreyfus’s advisors convinced him that Alex was too expensive, and as a result, OM opted to play with Renato Civelli that season. OM finished second in the league behind Bordeaux.
Diouf reflects on the decision, expressing regret and suggesting that if they had signed Alex, the outcome of the season might have been different. The revelation provides insight into the complexities and financial considerations that influence transfer decisions in football.
