Hurtado pushes Ordoñez towards Saudi Arabia rather than going to OM

Here we have a story just like we love at OM: Joël Ordoñez, a young Ecuadorian central defender from Club Bruges, has clearly expressed his desire to move to Marseille. Yet, while we, the supporters, are already dreaming of seeing him in the white jersey, negotiations are at a standstill. Meanwhile, Saudi clubs are advancing their positions, ready to open their checkbooks. Does that worry you?

Heart's choice... or the wallet's?

Ordoñez, it's simple: he sent a strong message to his management, he wants OM, attracted by De Zerbi's project and the idea of stepping up in Europe. But in Ecuador, some former internationals, like the legend Ivan Hurtado, don't agree. "If I were Joël, I would go to Saudi Arabia," he publicly stated. According to him, a career is short, and Saudi contracts are too lucrative to ignore. Who among you would have made this choice in his place, honestly?

What's at stake for OM and Ordoñez?

On one side, we have OM wanting to intelligently strengthen, betting on a promising young talent who is eager and sees Marseille as a springboard. On the other, the temptation of an immediate jackpot, with the risk of disappearing from the European radar. In sporting terms, who can claim that the Saudi league is more formative than Ligue 1 and our evenings at the Vélodrome? But financially, it's another story: OM will never be able to match the salaries offered over there, and we all know that.

The standoff continues: what stance to adopt?

We find ourselves in a rather classic situation: OM is stumbling in its negotiations (nothing new under the sun), while the petrodollars are making eyes at the player and his entourage. Will management be able to convince Bruges and Ordoñez to prioritize the Marseille project? Should we be worried about seeing our defensive priority slip away elsewhere? Tell us, friends, should we go all out or quickly move on to another case?

Have your say!

So, according to you, should Joël Ordoñez follow his Marseille dream or give in to the call of the Saudi millions? Should OM go all out to attract him or focus their energy on more accessible profiles? We're waiting for your views in the comments: let's debate together, this is also what Olympian passion is about!