Chancel Mbemba not seen as solution for Marseille amid defensive injury crisis | OneFootball

Marseille’s defensive problems have just got bigger after centre-back pair Leonardo Balerdi (26) and Luiz Felipe (28) could be set to be ruled out for the rest of the season. It leaves a selection headache for under-pressure coach Roberto De Zerbi, with only Canadian defender Derek Cornelius available as OM’s only natural senior centre-back. This is, of course, if we discount the fact that Chancel Mbemba (30) is still on the books at Marseille and trains regularly separately from the rest of the Marseille squad at the Commanderie for legal reasons. The Democratic Republic of the Congo international, who even recently featured during the international break as captain of his national, has yet found a club after being placed in the ‘loft’ during Marseille’s summer clear-out. Roberto De Zerbi has been vocal that the defender has no part to play with Les Olympiens this season.He has been the subject of clamour from Marseille fans, as well as journalists to be reintegrated back into the first team following OM’s 3-1 defeat to Stade de Reims this weekend. “You’ve got your best centre-back in the loft, you keep paying him a fortune, while the coach is forced make do and try and fill the gaps in that area of the pitch,” said L’Équipe du Soir columnist on a post on X.Mbemba is still being paid €270,000 a month by Marseille, even though he has not played a minute of club football this season. According to a report from L’Équipe, he is not seen as a solution for Marseille’s current defensive shortage. GFFN | George Boxall