Transfer Market OM: Ordóñez, when Bruges’ president plays the greedy game

With two days to go before the transfer window closes, the Joël Ordóñez saga continues to irritate the Marseille faithful. While the Ecuadorian defender (21) no longer hides his desire to join OM, Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe is issuing firm statements and financial demands one after another.

In an interview with the Belgian daily De Standaard, he hammered home his stance:

“Joël Ordóñez is attracting a lot of interest, but we have been clear with him: he will only leave on OUR terms.”

An outburst that perfectly illustrates the Brugge boss’s strategy: sell high, very high, even if it means needlessly prolonging a standoff with the player and OM.

The checkbook policy

The parallel with the Ardon Jashari case (sold for €36m to AC Milan) is no coincidence. Verhaeghe boasts of sticking to a hard line: no gifts, no discounts. For Ordóñez, he is asking for €35 million, or more, despite the context: a player sidelined from the squad since July, determined to force his departure, and a contract that is starting to weigh heavily on the club’s finances.

They call that rigor in Belgium… we’d call it greed.

Marseille won’t let go

Yet OM and Pablo Longoria have already made major efforts, meeting most of the financial conditions demanded. Roberto De Zerbi approved the profile weeks ago and is waiting for this reinforcement as a key link in his defense.

Ordóñez, for his part, is doing everything to speed things up: he turned down approaches from Al-Hilal and wants only Marseille. A clear choice that proves the OM project is convincing beyond the talk.

A heavyweight standoff

Deep down, everyone knows the key: Brugge will only relent by cashing in the maximum. But by inflating the price tag, Verhaeghe risks going too far and alienating his counterparts… as well as his own player.

With 48 hours left in the window, the pressure is total. OM must choose between breaking the bank or missing out on a major defensive signing. But one thing is certain: Team OM has long understood that this case is no longer about sport… it has become a matter of ego and euros.

So, friends, what do you think? Should they give in to Brugge’s greed to finally wrap up the Ordóñez deal, or turn the page and go all-in for Aguerd?