A speech to clarify the future.
While the resumption of the professional group is scheduled for June 29, Pablo Longoria wanted to speak on the club's official website to discuss the latest changes in the organization chart of Olympique de Marseille as well as on the market for transfers.
The President of Olympian first mentioned the role of Javier Ribalta, appointed Director of Football, and with whom he had already worked at Juventus Turin between 2015 and 2017: "
This position is essential to guarantee and maintain consistency across the whole sports policy, particularly in decision-making.
It's very important to me
, he said.
Javier is one of the most talented people in football.
I strongly believe in the incarnation of projects by young leaders who already have a lot of experience.
He has demonstrated for several years already, at the high level, his ability to adapt to all the evolutions of football
.
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The Spaniard also mentioned the difference between the prerogatives entrusted to Javier Ribalta and David Friio, present at the club since 2020 and who inherits the position of Sporting Director: "
We are strengthening David's position to give more clarity to the evolution of our organization.
In a more operational role, David will ensure the daily relationship between management and the professional group as well as the management of the scouting teams
, he said.
In a more strategic role, Javier will add value to the existing organization, thanks to his creativity.
In the end, it's a team effort, each in his field with his expertise, at the service of the club.
In addition, Marco Otero, who arrived from Valence FC, will take on the role of Technical Director in charge of training, with the ambition of making it "
the gateway for the players of Olympique de Marseille of tomorrow
" .
.
"
It's a question of the club's identity and culture
," he insisted.
“We are facing a very speculative market.
»
Pablo Longoria
During the interview, Pablo Longoria did not fail to speak on one of the major issues of the next few weeks for Olympique de Marseille: the transfer market.
The Marseille leader presented the club's ambitions for the off-season, explaining at the same time the reasons which have prevented him from being very active since the opening of the transfer window: "
We have targeted the positions we want to strengthen and those where we need to improve.
Right now we are facing a very speculative market
,” he said.
So we have our goals but we have to stay consistent with this trend, as we have been doing since day one at the club.
This consistency must also be reflected in our playing identity, with profiles of players determined to join us through this idea of building the team and who wish to fully commit to the club's project.
These are the basics.
Then we operate by priority.
»
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And the choices made by the Marseille management must be made in line with the game project established by Jorge Sampaoli, while certain rumors assure that the Argentinian would consider leaving La Canebière if ever the club did not strengthen for the coming season. “
I repeat, but it's so important: we want to give maximum coherence to the project.
This is the key.
Like last season, we all have to work together in the same direction
, he clarified.
On recruitment, it is a real logic of collective construction with Jorge and his staff, around two aspects: the style of play of the team and the profiles of the players, who must be complementary to each other.
Stuck for a time in financial problems – the DNCG had supervised its payroll before lifting its constraints – Olympique de Marseille missed several opportunities to strengthen itself in these first days of the transfer market.
The next few weeks should be quite lively on the Canebière side with several files that could settle (Bazoer, Harit, Saliba, Kluivert etc.).