Olympique de Marseille are pushing to appoint Grégory Lorenzi as their new sporting director, just days after his departure from Stade brestois was confirmed at the end of the season, according to L’Équipe. Lorenzi, 42, had reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Nice should they have avoided relegation, but Marseille are now attempting to sway him to the south of France.
Lorenzi’s success with Brest has drawn significant attention. He initially joined the club in 2016 when they were in Ligue 2 and played a key role in their promotion to the top flight and subsequent qualification for the Champions League. His work in building a competitive squad at Brest has established him as one of the most promising sporting directors in French football.
Contacts have already begun between representatives of Marseille and those close to the club’s incoming president, Stéphane Richard. Lorenzi himself is believed to be confident he can replicate his success at Brest with Marseille, a club with significantly greater resources and expectations. He previously played for Marseille early in his career, potentially adding to his desire to return.
While no fee has been disclosed, as this is not a player transfer, the move represents a significant coup for Marseille as they look to rebuild their sporting structure. The club has been searching for a long-term sporting director following a period of instability in that position. Lorenzi’s arrival could signal a shift towards a more strategic and data-driven approach to recruitment. The appointment could also influence pre-season plans, with questions raised about whether Lorenzi would approve of the club’s traditional training camp in Marbella.
