Back to work at OM: What could change as Marseille return for pre-season
After a summer of significant change behind the scenes, Olympique de Marseille begin preparations for the 2026/27 campaign on Monday as Bruno Genesio officially gets to work with his new squad at the Commanderie.
While several players remain absent following the FIFA World Cup, the majority of the first-team squad will report for medical and physical testing, marking the start of a new era under Genesio, sporting director Grégory Lorenzi and newly-appointed club president Stéphane Richard.
A different approach
Unlike the previous two summers, Marseille have opted against creating a separate "loft" group for players expected to leave the club.
During Roberto De Zerbi's tenure, several first-team players trained away from the main squad while their futures were resolved, but this summer everyone has been summoned back for the opening of pre-season, regardless of their transfer status.
That means returning loanees, fringe players and footballers who could yet depart all begin preparation together, with Genesio expected to assess his options before decisions are made later in the window.
Greenwood among players to watch
One of the biggest names returning is Mason Greenwood. The English forward has been linked with a move away from the Orange Vélodrome this summer, with Turkish side Fenerbahçe among the clubs interested, but Marseille have so far shown little willingness to accept the offers received.
The 24-year-old is therefore expected to report alongside the rest of the squad. Elsewhere, players returning from loan spells, including Neal Maupay, Amine Harit, Angel Gomes and Faris Moumbagna, will also begin pre-season with the club as their futures remain undecided.
A summer of sales... and rebuilding
Marseille's transfer strategy has shifted significantly following Stéphane Richard's arrival as club president. The former Orange CEO has made it clear that the club must become more financially disciplined after several seasons of heavy spending. Speaking earlier this week to La Provence, Richard insisted that the previous model was "finished", adding that Marseille would instead be "ambitious in sales, clever in recruitment and much more demanding in every decision."
With the club operating under DNCG restrictions, reducing the wage bill remains a priority. Marseille are expected to generate around €80 million in player sales before the end of June 2027, meaning this summer's transfer window will play a key role in reshaping the squad.
However, Richard also stressed that the objective is not to dismantle the team, but to build "a club capable of winning sustainably while remaining financially sound."
Genesio's first task
For Genesio, the opening days of pre-season will provide a first opportunity to evaluate his group before the transfer window accelerates. Several World Cup participants will return later in the summer, before Les Olympiens jet off to the Ivory Coast for a pre-season tour.
The new coach inherits a squad that is expected to undergo significant changes before the transfer deadline, but unlike previous summers, everyone begins pre-season on equal footing.
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