OGC Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère has publicly accused Olympique de Marseille of acting improperly in their pursuit of Grégory Lorenzi, who has recently been appointed as the club’s new sporting director. Rivère claims that Lorenzi had already signed a contract with Nice before entering discussions with Marseille, a claim the Nice president says Marseille was aware of.
According to RMC Sport, Rivère stated that a contract with Lorenzi was signed, including a clause allowing the director to withdraw if Nice were relegated to Ligue 2. He alleges that Lorenzi informed him of his decision to join Marseille despite the existing agreement. “He came to my office and told me he was sorry, but he was going to honour his word and choose Marseille,” Rivère said.
Rivère believes Marseille knowingly disregarded the existing contract between Lorenzi and Nice. He asserts that Marseille were fully informed of the agreement and proceeded with the announcement of Lorenzi’s appointment regardless. “They know. He couldn’t have not told them,” Rivère stated, adding that he is prepared to send the contract to Marseille if they claim to be unaware of it. He criticised the practice of pursuing individuals already under contract with other clubs, suggesting discussions should cease upon learning of a prior commitment.
The situation is particularly sensitive given Nice’s recent successful battle to avoid relegation. The club secured their Ligue 1 status for next season by winning a promotion/relegation play-off against Saint-Étienne. While Rivère initially believed Marseille’s interest in Lorenzi was contingent on Nice’s relegation, he now believes a contract was signed with Lorenzi prior to any such contingency. He indicated that discussions with Marseille will follow to address the matter.
Lorenzi’s appointment at Marseille marks a significant change for the club, as they seek to strengthen their sporting structure. He joins from Nice, where he had been working to rebuild the club following their financial difficulties. The dispute with Nice adds a layer of complexity to his arrival at the Stade Vélodrome and could potentially lead to legal action.
