OM – Benatia closes the Rabiot saga: between regrets, entourage and values

A Summer Under High Tension

The Rabiot affair marked Marseille’s summer. Beginning with the explosive altercation with Jonathan Rowe in Rennes, it quickly turned into a media saga. The player’s mother and agent, Véronique Rabiot, multiplied accusations against Roberto De Zerbi and the Marseille management, accusing OM of wanting to push her son out. In this electric atmosphere, the break became inevitable.

Yet, Medhi Benatia recalls: “Until the end, the door remained open. But once the situation had reached a point of no return, we had to move forward.” Letting uncertainty drag on would have weakened a locker room already shaken by a busy transfer window.

A Strong Relationship, Undermined by the Entourage

Benatia has never hidden his personal bond with Rabiot: “I am very close to Adrien, I like him a lot.” He was the one who convinced the international midfielder to join Marseille a year earlier. But family interference complicated things: “Unfortunately, when family gets involved, sometimes it goes beyond football.”

On a human level, the Moroccan says he still holds respect for the man: “I’m just sad not to see him on a daily basis anymore.” From a sporting perspective, he acknowledges it was necessary to preserve the team’s balance.

A Departure That Became Logical

The transfer to AC Milan ultimately made sense, combining both sporting and financial logic. Having arrived on a free transfer with a reduced salary, Rabiot nevertheless brought in compensation deemed “reasonable” by the management. For Benatia, it was also a way to “show appreciation” to a player who had left his mark at OM.

Pablo Longoria confirmed this line: no regrets, only consistency to uphold. A club cannot give the impression of yielding to outside pressure.

Turning the Page and Looking Ahead

Today, the chapter is closed. De Zerbi has reignited momentum with his signings and young players, and OM approaches the Champions League with a calmer squad. Rabiot, meanwhile, has returned to Italy and Massimiliano Allegri.

Benatia sums it up: “Life is about values and convictions. We acted in line with our principles.” A final word to close a painful matter, but one from which the club emerges stronger.