Roberto De Zerbi’s time at Olympique de Marseille was marked by friction with players, culminating in a mutual termination of his contract, according to reports in Italian media. The issues extended beyond on-field performance, with several incidents raising concerns about De Zerbi’s management style during his tenure with the French club.
One notable instance involved a heated exchange with Ismael Koné, now playing for Sassuolo in Serie A. During a training session, De Zerbi reportedly became frustrated with Koné’s adherence to tactical instructions and publicly reprimanded him, allegedly telling him to “go shower and don’t bother me! We are OM!” and to seek a new club through his agent, as he would not be given playing time. These details emerged in an interview with CBS, where Canada national team manager Jesse Marsch strongly criticized De Zerbi’s behavior.
Marsch described De Zerbi’s actions as “really nasty,” but praised Koné’s resilience in overcoming the situation. He stated that Koné “never doubted himself” and has flourished since leaving Marseille, currently playing a key role for Sassuolo under Fabio Grosso, having scored six goals in 32 appearances. Marsch highlighted the positive impact of Koné’s move to Italy and the structured environment of Serie A, emphasizing its role in his development.
Prior to the incident with Koné, De Zerbi was also involved in a reported altercation with Adrien Rabiot and Samuel Rowe, both now playing in Serie A for Milan and Bologna respectively. De Zerbi’s appointment at Tottenham Hotspur came after a short and unsuccessful spell with Igor Tudor, and he currently faces the challenge of steering the club away from relegation in the Premier League. The reports from his time at Marseille suggest potential challenges in managing player relations as he attempts to turn around Tottenham’s fortunes.
