Les Minots: Marseille finally playing the long-awaited youth card

Olympique de Marseille have rarely been known for offering sustained opportunities to their youngest players. This season, however, Les Minots have carved out a visible place in Roberto De Zerbi’s rotation, with Robinio Vaz, Darryl Bakola and Tadjidine Mmadi all earning senior minutes, and making the most of them. During Les Phocéens latest Coupe de France fixture against Bourg-Péronnas (0-6), all three would feature as 18-year old Mmadi scored his first goal with the club.

The scene after Marseille’s 3-0 win over Brest before the previous international break offered a telling snapshot. Medhi Benatia accompanied Vaz, Bakola and Mmadi into the mixed zone, allowing the three teenagers to address the media together. Between an awkward mix of giggles and half-answers, the Olympien club was making their point: youth would be part of the project this season.

“The coach trusts us, and we enjoy ourselves,” said Mmadi, recently back from the FIFA U20 World Cup. “We’re at the service of the club. If we have to go back to the U19s or the reserves, we’ll do it.”

Benatia immediately challenged that mindset. “But why would you want to go back?” the sporting director asked. “You can impose yourself here too.”

The challenge for the trio is exactly that this season, and as OM reach the halfway mark of the season, their influence has been growing under the strain and schedule of matches in a busy winter period. 

Vaz seizing his chance

While Bakola and Mmadi remain rotational options, Robinio Vaz has taken a clear step forward. After three substitute appearances last season, the 18-year-old has already delivered four goals and two assists this campaign, starting three matches and impacting games from the bench.

Roberto De Zerbi has been keen to contextualise that progression. “We must not put too much pressure on him,” the Italian coach explained. “If he plays, it’s because I judge him ready. He doesn’t play because we have to play him, or because of the market. He plays because he is strong.”

Equally, 17 year-old Darryl Bakola saw himself thrown into Marseille's starting XI against Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League last month - and managed to bag an assist on his European debut. Meanwhile Mmadi's impact has come most recently during OM's 6-0 demolition job in the Coupe de France last weekend.

between expectation and oppurtunity

Within the squad, senior players have embraced their role in guiding Les Minots. Geoffrey Kondogbia described their emergence as “a sign of the club’s evolution”.

Benatia, meanwhile, has adopted a more demanding stance, praising potential while closely monitoring inconsistencies - notably in Bakola’s performances at youth level.

“What makes me proud is seeing them here,” the sporting director admitted. “I dream of three, four or five young players establishing themselves at this club.”

At Marseille, that would represent a genuine cultural shift. For now, Les Minots remain between opportunity and expectation. They are gaining minutes, confidence and exposure -  but breaking permanently into the starting XI remains a challenge in a squad built to compete immediately.

As De Zerbi himself has reminded: “We accept mistakes from experienced players. So we must accept them even more from a player born in 2007.”

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