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8 months ago
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Recruited a year ago at a high price, and now loaned to Genoa, Vitinha should not necessarily have ended up in Marseille.
This is one of the most resounding failures of the Marseille board since the arrival of Frank McCourt and the presidential promotion of Pablo Longoria. Vitinha, poached in the final hours of the 2023 winter transfer window and already sent far from Marseille – on loan to Genoa with an option to buy – has never been able to justify the millions of euros invested in him by OM. No less than 32, including bonuses of 5 to 7 million.
Presented rightly or wrongly as the most expensive recruit in the history of the club – ahead of Dimitri Payet, repatriated in 2017 from West Ham for 30 million euros – Vitinha in 43 appearances in the sky and white jersey does not will hardly have found the fault on more than six occasions. Anecdotal in comparison to his too many technical approximations which ended up getting the better of the patience of the supporters, initially seduced by the combativeness of the boy.
Ribalta’s legacy
Vitinha at OM, this will therefore remain the story of a “panic buy” of the winter transfer window. Not a plan B but rather a plan E while the Olympian management first tried its luck on the files of Trossard (Brighton then Arsenal), Moffi (Lorient then Nice), Beto (Udinese then Everton) and Azmoun (Leverkusen then the Rome). A strange combination of circumstances in short, for a recruitment which has never been unanimous at the Commanderie. And overpaid to boot when Braga initially only demanded 15 million euros for their young international hopeful. The English from Southampton having raised the stakes well beyond reasonable.
Surveyed by L’Équipe, a club employee confessed: “ At the time, there was management on one side who made decisions and on the other a recruitment department which supervised the players. There was little connection between the two. Ribalta is used to working independently. » Vitinha is therefore the choice above all of the former OM football director – a prospect validated by his senior man, scout Roberto Malfitano. And the Marseillais find themselves with a very heavy inheritance, with still to this day more than 20 million euros to settle with their Portuguese counterparts…
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
