OM: O’Riley, the No.8 who makes the ball move faster than anyone else

An 8 rather than a 10: a deliberate choice

Matt O’Riley’s arrival says a lot about Roberto De Zerbi’s philosophy. Not the fantasy of a free-roaming No. 10, but a No. 8 capable of putting in repeated shifts, directing play and speeding up ball circulation. Trained at Fulham, made his name at Celtic then tested at Brighton, the Danish international arrives at 24 with a modern toolkit and a clear brief: turn possession into chances. In a Marseille context that’s sometimes sterile against low blocks, that’s a tactical weapon.

The pass as a lethal weapon

O’Riley isn’t a dribbler by trade. His magic is the pass. One-touch layoffs, precise diagonals, balls threaded between the lines: he knows how to inject speed into every sequence. With Aubameyang running in behind and explosive wingers around him, his passes can quickly change the look of OM’s attack.

A set-piece master

In Marseille, set pieces are often a broken promise. O’Riley adds a fearsome left foot on corners and outswinging free kicks, capable of sowing panic in the box. Even if he won’t necessarily be the designated taker, he increases the options to vary routines. And his height also allows him to be on the receiving end.

Inside De Zerbi’s system

De Zerbi’s system rests on dependable relays between build-up and finishing. O’Riley fits that connector role: operating in the right half-space, he combines with the full-back and the winger, fixes opponents with his passing and then plays vertically. Versatile, he can drop into a double pivot or push up as a 10 as needed. In short, a profile that offers flexibility without sacrificing identity.

His limits, known and accepted

Make no mistake: O’Riley isn’t a line-breaking runner. He lacks explosiveness over the first few yards and can struggle physically against certain Ligue 1 midfielders. In front of goal, his weaker right foot makes him inconsistent. But in his sweet spot—as a creative, tireless link midfielder—he retains decisive impact.

An ideal context to bounce back

At Celtic, he proved he could handle the weight of expectation; at Brighton, injuries and a role too high up the pitch held him back. In Marseille, he arrives without an overwhelming status or record fee, in an environment where his game intelligence can make the difference. If De Zerbi provides structure and fixed reference points, O’Riley has everything to become OM’s discreet yet vital conductor.