Igor Paixão: Ready to be OM's main man
With the departures of Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Mason Greenwood, Brazilian attacker Igor Paixão will be looked at to take on a bigger role in his second season with Olympique de Marseille.
A bigger role
Igor Paixão made headlines when he joined Olympique de Marseille last summer, arriving from Feyenoord in a €30M move. His first season under a combination of Roberto de Zerbi and Habib Beye was a somewhat mixed one, though. He would impress in the Champions League with four goals, but find the net just six times in the league as the club fumbled a chance at a return to Europe's top table, even losing his place to Hamed Junior Traoré at times.
Now, though, with far less competition in the attacking third, he looks well-positioned to reach his best under new manager Bruno Génésio as l'OM undergo a dramatic transformation owing to financial restrictions placed on the club. Along with his erstwhile attacking partners, the club has also sanctioned the departures of 'keeper Geronimo Rulli and defender Facundo Medina, meaning that the expectations around Paixão are that much higher this season.
What a hit from Igor Paixão! 🚀#OMAthleticClub | 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/tr8DouA3Yh
— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) August 9, 2026
winning plaudits from Génésio
Having impressed in preseason, the Brazilian has earned the ready admiration of his manager, who was quick to praise a player who's found the net in each of his club's three friendlies to date, saying "Igor is an extraordinary guy, a very good player. He really enjoys training and playing. He is also building on the momentum of what he achieved last season. He was a key player for OM during the previous campaign, and right from the start of this season, he has been involved in many dangerous plays and goals; for us, he is a very important asset."
Of course, his strong play has continued to make him the subject of transfer rumors -- Leeds and clubs from the Middle East are among his supposed suitors, but for the moment he looks set to raise his level at one of the biggest clubs in Ligue 1 McDonald's.
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