‘You have to let me go’ – Medhi Benatia claims Renan Lodi demanded Marseille exit | OneFootball

Medhi Benatia, the sporting director for Olympique de Marseille, has revealed in an interview with Canal Plus the behind-the-scenes story for Renan Lodi’s (25) surprising midseason departure, as he claims the player forced an exit from the club.

The fullback had only joined Marseille last summer from Atlético Madrid but after half a season with Les Phocéens he was on the move again as he departed for Al Hilal during the winter transfer window.

Lodi until this point had been one of the most consistent performers under Gennaro Gattuso and appeared to be a key piece in the manager’s system. The club acted quickly to bring in Quentin Merlin (21) and Ulisses Garcia (28) as replacements, but it remained a startling transfer.

However, Benatia states, it was never the club’s intention to sell Lodi when Al Hilal first enquired about the fullback. “We discussed it with the president (Pablo Longoria) and he said: ‘No, we told the manager that we are not going to sell so we’re not doing it.’ Unfortunately, the player found out through his agent that there was this offer.“

According to Benatia, Lodi then talked to Gattuso after the victory against US Thionville Lusitanos in the Coupe de France and expressed his frustrations that the club were refusing to sell him, “He told him: ‘I have an offer that has come in, apparently you don’t want to accept it, I’m going to earn four times my salary, you have to let me go’.“

Benatia continued, “Gattuso then came to see us, the president and me, and says: ‘Guys, he’s coming to talk to me about money, I’m a coach and I don’t like it. I made him play every match, he’s a starter, but if his mind is elsewhere we have to let him go.’“

GFFN | Nick Hartland