Marseille`s Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi looks on before a match.
The world of professional football, much like any high-stakes workplace, operates under an unwritten code of conduct. When that code is breached, especially through a public altercation, the fallout can be as dramatic as a last-minute goal. Such is the current saga unfolding at Olympique Marseille, where coach Roberto De Zerbi finds himself at the center of a storm involving midfielder Adrien Rabiot and, perhaps more significantly, Rabiot`s influential mother and agent, Véronique Rabiot.
The Unraveling of Discipline: A “Bar Fight” in the Locker Room
What began as a heated exchange escalated into a physical confrontation between Adrien Rabiot and teammate Rowe following a match in Rennes last Friday. De Zerbi, known for his passionate and uncompromising approach, immediately sanctioned Rabiot with a temporary suspension. His expectation was simple, almost paternal: a humble, immediate apology. “I would have expected a Rabiot with his ears down and an apology,” De Zerbi stated in a recent press conference, painting a vivid picture of the repentance he sought. He added that such a gesture would have allowed things to “return to normality.”
However, what De Zerbi anticipated as a temporary measure spiraled into a full-blown crisis, largely, in his view, due to the involvement of Rabiot`s entourage.
The Entourage Effect: When Family Business Becomes Team Turmoil
In modern football, the line between player and agent often blurs, especially when the agent is a close family member. Véronique Rabiot, a figure as well-known for her fierce representation as her son is for his midfield prowess, quickly entered the fray. She reportedly accused De Zerbi of “betrayal” and “incoherence,” even alleging that the coach “barks” in the dressing room – a claim De Zerbi does not deny, but contextualizes within his management style.
De Zerbi vehemently refuted the core of her accusations, particularly the comparison drawn between Rabiot`s situation and that of Mason Greenwood, whose past issues were distinctly personal. De Zerbi emphasized: “She said things that were not true (…), I was the one who made him captain in Paris and who intervened when Parisian fans threw bottles at him.” He continued, “With Greenwood, those were personal facts. Here we are talking about wrong behavior in a workplace.” The distinction, he argues, is critical: professional misconduct in an employment setting demands a different response than private affairs.
Paternal Advice and Professional Reality
Despite the escalating tension, De Zerbi maintains a complex relationship with Rabiot. He revealed that Rabiot finally approached him just before the press conference, expressing regret but still believing the suspension was overly severe. De Zerbi`s response was not just as a coach but as a mentor, perhaps even a surrogate father figure.
“I spoke to him like a father. If I had been his father, I would have done the same. I gave him paternal advice and we’ll see what he does with it.”
De Zerbi even went as far as to illustrate his dedication, stating he had shown “more attention for his son than for others,” and even offered Rabiot to stay in his own home in Aix-en-Provence while he (De Zerbi) would move to a hotel. It’s a striking image of a coach trying to connect on a deeply personal level amidst professional chaos.
The Rules of Engagement: Hierarchy in High-Stakes Sport
For De Zerbi, the incident goes beyond individual personalities; it’s about upholding fundamental workplace principles. “Let’s put some order,” he declared. “If in any workplace two employees fight, whether they are two waiters, two lawyers or two workers, in front of the bosses, there are only two solutions: suspension or dismissal.” The fact that bodyguards had to intervene underlined the seriousness of the scuffle, making the suspension a “forced choice.”
This firm stance, he explained, was taken in agreement with President Longoria and Sporting Director Benatia, and was meant to reinforce the idea that even within the high-glamour world of football, “a hierarchy exists.” The coach is unwilling to compromise these principles, even if it means losing a player of Rabiot`s caliber. “I don`t lose dignity for a game,” he asserted, highlighting a courageous decision for managerial authority.
Looking Ahead: Rabiot`s Future and Marseille`s Rebuild
With the current impasse, the likelihood of Rabiot remaining at Marseille appears slim. De Zerbi acknowledges the difficulty of playing without a player of Rabiot`s quality but remains resolute. While he insists a “definitive break” was never the club`s intention, the situation, largely thanks to the “mismanaged” response from Rabiot`s camp, has made reconciliation exceedingly difficult. The transfer market is now a likely destination for the midfielder.
Marseille, under De Zerbi, is already preparing for significant changes, anticipating “5-6 new signings” before the transfer window closes. This ongoing drama not only highlights the volatile nature of elite football but also serves as a potent reminder that even the most talented players are ultimately governed by the rules of the institution they represent – rules that even the most protective of entourages may find hard to circumvent.
