What to Expect from De Zerbi’s Marseille in 2025-26

Roberto De Zerbi's Olympique de Marseille will be heading into a packed second season under the Italian coach, and one that will mark a return to UEFA Champions League action. This week, Les Olympiens will be returning to La Commanderie for their pre-season preparations ahead of a base camp in the Netherlands and friendly games in Andorra and Spain.

The likes of Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes, and Neal Maupay have already returned to training - with the club's internationals expected to also return shortly. Les Phocéens have been busy this transfer window already: Lille midfielder Angel Gomes has signed on a free transfer with fellow countryman and defender Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley also moving to the club for free from Burnley. This was before the club announced the arrival of defender Facundo Medina last week, who joined on a loan-to-buy deal from fellow Ligue 1 McDonald's club Racing Club de Lens.

There are set to be more incomings for Les Olympiens this summer, but Marseille are already recruiting in key areas ahead of their return to the UEFA Champions League. Defence was an issue last season, with injuries and suspensions leading to a lack of centre-back options for De Zerbi which saw the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia and even Valentin Rongier have to deputise. The signings of Egan-Riley and Medina are with the intention to bolster the spine of what will be a back four.

De Zerbi set to return to a back four

"I want to play with a back four, wingers, and a number 10. I’ve always set up like that, but you have to adapt to the players that you have," said Roberto De Zerbi in a press conference at the latter end of last season. "But a good coach has to adapt to his players. Balerdi isn’t here, so it’s difficult to play with four at the back. Murillo has to adapt. And often our goals come from his movements. Kondogbia isn’t a centre-back. Merlin, Garcia and Lirola aren’t full-backs who can play deep, like Dedic."

This saw OM line-up with a back three often last season, which is something that De Zerbi has rarely done at previous clubs such as Brighton and Sassuolo. So defensive incomings have clearly been made with a back-four in mind - especially with the added workload of the UEFA Champions League for the 2025-2026 season.

Facundo Medina would have been signed with the intention to be either a starting centre-back alongside Argentina teammate Leonardo Balerdi, or in the full-back role that De Zerbi has already reportedly earmarked for the former Lens man. This gives Egan-Riley the playing opportunity in the centre, pending a move for another experienced central defender.

Angel Gomes a huge midfield addition

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has signed permanently for Marseille, and he looks set to continue his role deep in midfield - whilst Adrien Rabiot could still be playing high up the pitch in an attacking left midfield role. This is where the addition of Angel Gomes can work quite well, because the Englishman is flexible and can either play deep, or an attacking midfield role. My instinct says he is likely to feature alongside Højbjerg in a classic De Zerbi double pivot. This, again, could change based on incoming signings. Don't expect too much more movement in Marseille's midfield areas though, because Gomes' signing means competition is fierce for these starting spots in the middle of the park.

How do Marseille replace Luis Henrique?

Where Marseille will definitely go into the market is to try and find a solution to replace Luis Henrique after the Brazilian signed with Inter Milan just before the FIFA Club World Cup. This has seen rumours of Marseille wanting to make a move for Feyenoord's Brazilian winger Igor Paixão (according to L'Équipe).

On the opposite side, Mason Greenwood will likely keep his spot, but OM are looking to provide competition for the Englishman which could come in the form of US international Timothy Weah (according to Fabrizio Romano). Both of these are however targets and not confirmed transfers.

Up front, Amine Gouiri looks set to lead the line once more after a productive first half of the season with OM in the 2024-2025 campaign. Englishman Jonathan Rowe will be a great flexible option for next season, having impressed with England during the Euro U21 championships at the central number 9 spot but with the flexibility to also play out wide.

Yet, we are in July, and there is still a chunk of pre-season and the rest of the transfer window to go - but the building blocks are starting to be put into place for next season's Phocéen campaign.

Photo Credit: Puma, Olympique de Marseille, FEP

>>Transfers: Facundo Medina makes Marseille switch from Lens