‘I’ve never played abroad’ – Valentin Rongier opens door to Marseille exit  | OneFootball

The former Olympique de Marseille captain Valentin Rongier (30) was stripped of his captaincy during the summer with Roberto De Zerbi instead elevating Leonardo Balerdi (26) to the role.

It was a demotion that could have signalled the end for a midfielder who had missed much of the previous season due to a broken kneecap. Significant reinforcements in midfield also added to the feeling that there was not much of a future for the former captain.

Instead, De Zerbi slowly introduced the midfielder into the lineup taking care not to aggravate an injury after so many months without football, and since the 3-1 loss to AJ Auxerre, Rongier has become a vital cog in the manager’s system.

Valentin Rongier opens door for Marseille departure

However, Rongier will only have a year left on his contract at the end of this season and Marseille have been keen to shift players on before they enter their final year. In an interview with La Provence, Rongier opened the door for an exit this summer.

“My future? We’ll see what happens. I’ve never played abroad. As a person, I’d like to discover something else.” However, he tempered that statement by adding that he could continue his adventure with Les Phocéens, “There’s some thinking to do because Marseille is always exciting.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland