Marseille Demotes Azzedine Ounahi and Five Other Players to the Reserve Team Ahead of Possible Departures
French club Olympique Marseille has decided to lower six players from the first team to the reserve team as part of its preparation strategy for the upcoming 2025-2026 football season. This move reflects the club’s intention to reorganize its technical and human resources during the summer transfer window.
According to “Foot Mercato,” the list of players affected includes Moroccan international Azzedine Ounahi, along with goalkeeper Ruben Blanco, Bamo Mitie, Faris Mombaniya, Simon Ngabando Itenbo, and Ismaël Koné, noting that they have officially joined the reserve team’s training sessions.
This step aims to closely monitor the players’ physical and psychological conditions, especially with high expectations for their departures from the club during the ongoing summer transfer market. Their presence in the reserves serves as a transitional phase allowing them to maintain full readiness while awaiting clarity on their contract futures.
Azzedine Ounahi is under contract with Marseille until the summer of 2027; however, his recent trajectory has not been stable, as he spent last season on loan at Greek club Panathinaikos. The coming days will be crucial in determining the next destination for the players who have fallen out of consideration for the starting lineup.
