Roberto De Zerbi is set to leave his role as Marseille manager this week, according to reports in France.
De Zerbi, who has been linked with the Manchester United job, has been under increasing pressure following the French side’s dismal exit from the Champions League.
Marseille were then thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday to leave them three points adrift of the automatic Champions League places in Ligue 1.
According to RMC Sport, the 46-year-old Italian took training on Tuesday and held talks with his players and club bosses before deciding he could not continue in the role. His exit is said to be imminent.
De Zerbi has been frustrated at the players’ attitude after the 3-0 defeat by Club Brugge and the mauling at the hands of Luis Enrique’s side, the publication reported.
RMC Sport said an interim manager is expected to lead the team when they host Strasbourg on Saturday, with a decision on his departure likely to be ratified in the coming days.
Roberto De Zerbi is set to leave his role as Marseille manager this week, according to reports
The French side have been embroiled in crisis following their shock Champions League exit
De Zerbi was appointed Marseille boss in June 2024 following two years in the Premier League with Brighton.
He guided the club to second in Ligue 1 in his first season in charge, securing a return to Europe’s top table, but has endured a disappointing second campaign.
Marseille have been embroiled in crisis since crashing out of the Champions League in the first stage of the competition.
There had been reports De Zerbi would be axed after sporting director Medhi Benatia warned there would be ‘consequences’ following the dismal loss to Club Brugge.
The Italian continued, despite a reported threat of resignation, but the writing appears to have been on the wall in recent weeks.
‘I really wanted to come to Marseille,’ he said when asked about him quitting the club.
‘That’s the truth. There’s also the element of responsibility. I was taught to take responsibility. I’m telling you, the club, we played a bad match, that’s all.
‘I don’t know if I’m the ideal coach for OM. From a results standpoint, we’ve done some good things. But there’s this lack of consistency.’
De Zerbi recently heaped praise on Mason Greenwood in a gushing speech about the star
Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that De Zerbi has admirers at Man United with the club looking for a new head coach in the summer.
He was interviewed by Ineos in May 2024 and considered a leading contender to replace Erik ten Hag before the appointment of Ruben Amorim.
De Zerbi is believed to be interested in a return to the Premier League after winning plaudits during his time at Brighton.
His final weeks in France have come amid a crisis involving key figures such as Benatia, who has reportedly been incensed by Marseille star Mason Greenwood.
Benatia and the former Man United winger are said to openly ignore one another whenever they cross paths, with the sporting director often a vocal critic of the 24-year-old both on and off the pitch, according to L’Equipe.
Benatia is thought to have been angry that Greenwood shirked a commercial responsibility last summer with little concerns for the repercussions.
De Zerbi however publicly backed Greenwood in a gushing speech, claiming his player has become ‘world-class’ after building on ‘what his mother and father taught him’.
The former United forward, 24, left Old Trafford under controversial circumstances in the summer of 2024 but has since revived his career under De Zerbi, proving an integral part of his first team.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault while playing at United, which led to him being banished from the squad and dropped by England’s national team.
Charges were eventually dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement, but Greenwood remained in exile at Manchester United before eventually being sold for £26.7million to Marseille.
