From Rabiot to Weah: the players who dared to cross the OM–PSG divide

A rivalry that shows no mercy

For almost thirty years now, the Classique has gone far beyond the pitch itself. OM and PSG share a fierce rivalry, rooted in cultural, economic and popular antagonisms. And while the fans have never reconciled, several players have crossed the red line by wearing both shirts. A choice that, depending on the era and the personality, turned into either a fairytale… or a nightmare.

In total, 47 players have worn both jerseys. Striking fact: 25 of them left Paris to join Marseille, compared to 22 who went the other way.

From Rabiot to Weah: the most recent

Adrien Rabiot is without a doubt the most striking example in recent years. Trained at PSG, he long embodied the symbol of the capital’s club. Yet, last March, he stepped onto the Parc des Princes pitch wearing an OM shirt, booed by the entire stadium. A powerful scene that confirmed the chasm between these two worlds remains wide open.

This summer, it was Timothy Weah who reignited this heated tradition. Trained at PSG, son of George Weah — a capital legend but also a former Marseille player — the striker signed for OM after his spell at Juventus. Just last Tuesday, he even scored against Real Madrid, as if to prove he won’t be just another “trivial defector.”

The success stories: Cana, Angloma, Heinze…

Some managed to win the hearts of the fans. Lorik Cana is the perfect example. Trained in Paris, he arrived at OM in 2005 and conquered the supporters’ hearts from his very first Classique, heading in the winning goal (1-0). Four years, 175 matches and an armband later, he remains remembered as a respected captain.

Another striking case: Gaby Heinze. Closely associated with PSG in the early 2000s, he landed at Marseille in 2009 under Didier Deschamps. In just two seasons, he became one of the symbols of the 2010 title run, notably with a stunning free kick against Rennes. His fighting spirit and charisma made him a fan favorite at the Vélodrome.

Even further back, Jocelyn Angloma followed a similar path. After playing for Paris in the early 90s, he left a bigger mark on OM’s history with a Champions League win in 1993.

The painful failures: the Fiorèse case

Not everything turned out so well. In Marseille’s collective memory, Fabrice Fiorèse remains a hated figure. A PSG hero between 2002 and 2004, he fell out with coach Halilhodžić and chose Marseille as his exit strategy. Problem: he had mocked OM too much during his Parisian years. The result: zero integration, 19 bland matches, and a contract terminated in anonymity. Fiorèse will go down as the symbol of a failed transfer.

A long list of “double jerseys”

Other names complete the gallery: Modeste Mbami, appreciated on both sides before his passing in 2023; Édouard Cissé, quiet but key during the 2010 title run; Frédéric Déhu, Peter Luccin, Stéphane Dalmat, Peguy Luyindula, and Jérôme Leroy.

Not forgetting the brief stints of stars like George Weah, Bruno Ngotty, or Daniel Bravo, who left only fleeting traces in Marseille.

Today: an increasing rarity

For nearly a decade now, the sporting and financial gap between OM and PSG has reduced these crossing paths. Apart from Lassana Diarra or Hatem Ben Arfa, few still dare take on the adventure on both sides. The Timothy Weah case, set to make his first Olympian Classique tonight at the Vélodrome, will be closely scrutinized. It’s up to him to write a story closer to Cana or Heinze… than to the Fiorèse fiasco.