What is happening around the figure of Jean-Pierre Papin is causing discussion in Marseillenow coach of the OM youth team after initially returning to the club months ago as a consultant and ambassador.
The complaint came from Papin himselfwho pointed the finger at Ali Zarrak, head of the reserve team: “I am the coach and I cannot allow this person to decide who my five substitutes are. When players from the first team came to us for playing needs, I have always respected the directives, but everything seems to depend on him. I don’t need intermediaries to communicate with De Zerbi or president Longoria, but the problem with this person persists.” And again: “For three weeks, there have been three cars of private security agents in front of my house. It is an unbearable situation. One day I was approached by two men on motorbikes who ordered me to leave Marseille. I don’t know if this is connected to the situation in the club; I don’t allow myself to think or say it, but I don’t accept it being said that I don’t respect the company’s directives, while I’m experiencing something similar. So we can’t go on: either I stay, or he goes the person in question.”
Roberto De Zerbi also expressed his opinion on the topiccoach of the first team in Marseille, who in the press conference wanted to reiterate his non-involvement in the affair: “I have no problems at OM, nor with him, nor with anyone else. If I have one, I will be the first to tell you. Have just respect and fairness towards me. I wanted to clarify an important point, I have been at the center of controversies related to Jean-Pierre Papin. What was written is false and invented. I have a good relationship with Papin at OM, I respect him, for his great past in the club, also for his age, he is older than me. At the club I have always greeted everyone, from the warehouse worker to the gardener, I have no problems with anyone and with this controversy from Papin I fell off my chair. Sometimes I talk to Jean-Pierre, we don’t see each other often but everything is always good between us.”