Chancel Mbemba’s relationship with Olympique de Marseille (OM) appears to be unraveling, as the club has suspended the Congolese defender following a heated incident that has brought an already strained situation to the brink of collapse. The rift between Mbemba and OM management, which has been simmering for some time, now seems likely to lead to an inevitable parting of ways.
The controversy erupted after a seemingly routine warm-up match against RC Grasse, where Mbemba made an offensive gesture towards Ali Zarrak, the head of OM’s reserve team, in front of teammates and technical staff.
According to reports, Mbemba directed the gesture at Zarrak but made it clear that it was also intended for OM president Pablo Longoria.
The incident escalated when Mbemba refused to play with the reserves, citing the risk of injury as a reason to avoid the upcoming match.
The situation quickly deteriorated when Mbemba allegedly engaged in a verbal altercation with Zarrak, dismissively telling him, “I’m warning you, cousin, next week I won’t come to your shitty match where there’s a four-hour drive.”
Witnesses report that Zarrak responded firmly, stating, “I warn you, Chancel, I am not your cousin.
When you speak to me, you speak to me respectfully, you call me Ali, not cousin. Okay?” Unfazed, Mbemba reportedly retorted, “Your name is Ali, but you are African.
So, I will call you cousin. And I will call you cousin if I want,” before ending the exchange with a pair of middle fingers directed at Zarrak and Longoria.
This confrontation marked a breaking point for OM’s management, who decided to suspend Mbemba, a move that comes at a time when tensions were already high due to his exclusion from the first team by new head coach Roberto De Zerbi. Mbemba, who is approaching his 30th birthday, has reportedly been unhappy with his treatment, particularly after two seasons of solid performances for the club.
The suspension has further complicated Mbemba’s situation at OM. According to sources, the club is considering a financial penalty against the player, while Mbemba is said to be seeking to provoke his dismissal.
His aim appears to be to secure a free transfer a year before his contract expires, allowing him to join a new club of his choosing—potentially one in the Gulf region, where he could command a higher salary.
OM, however, is determined to avoid losing Mbemba without compensation. The club reportedly values him at €10 to €15 million and is eager to use the funds from his potential sale to fuel their ongoing transfer activities.
An offer from Rennes is on the table, but Mbemba has expressed no interest in joining the Breton side, further straining his relationship with Marseille’s management.
The standoff between Mbemba and OM is reminiscent of past disputes involving players like Bouba Kamara and Pape Gueye, who similarly resisted signing new contracts under contentious circumstances.
As the saga unfolds, OM supporters are left divided, unsure of how to interpret the treatment of a player who recently won the Marc-Vivien Foé Prize, awarded to the best African player in Ligue 1.
With both sides entrenched in their positions, the situation appears to have reached a point of no return, leaving the outcome uncertain as the conflict continues to escalate.
