Ex-Marseille Director Leaves Door Open to PSG: "I Owe Nothing to Anyone"

Just days after his departure from Marseille, Mehdi Benatia is already making headlines by not ruling out the possibility of one day working for rivals PSG. The former sporting director for the Marseille club admitted to having a good relationship with Parisian president Nasser Al Khelaifi.

The surprising statements came during his appearance on The Bridge, a program hosted by Aurélien Tchouaméni, Sandy Heribert, and Donel Jack'sman, which also featured Paul Pogba and Soprano. When asked about a potential offer from PSG, Benatia was direct, leaving the door open to the possibility.

"If tomorrow Nasser needs me... if it's for a role at PSG and if, at that moment, it appeals to me, [I'll accept]. I owe nothing to anyone," stated the 39-year-old former Moroccan international. While emphasizing his intention to "rest" after leaving Marseille, Benatia reinforced his stance: "If you're waiting for me to say no because I owe this or that to someone, no. If tomorrow I have to go to work, I will never question what others will think or say."

During the interview, Benatia recalled that his entry into a management role was not planned. "I never studied to be a sporting director. I was an agent in Dubai, and then they called me because I knew the club and the city," explained the Moroccan, who joined Marseille at the end of 2023 and was appointed sporting director in 2025.

The former executive also touched on the unique demands of working for the Marseille club. "In Marseille, you have to accept that you no longer belong to yourself; you belong to the people of Marseille," he confessed. Under his direction, Marseille experienced contrasting seasons: they achieved second place in the 2024/2025 season but had a more challenging league campaign the following season, finishing fifth with 59 points.