CM: Veretout’s exit and De Zerbi’s promise – Bennacer to Marseille remains alive | OneFootball

The transfer window only closed one week ago, but there is already talk of a January move being lined up for Ismael Bennacer after he ended up remaining at AC Milan.

As Calciomercato.com report, Bennacer had ended up in the sights of Atletico Madrid and Marseille towards the end of the window and it was the French club in particular that got closest to closing the deal.

Milan would have also accepted a loan formula, so as to be able to free up a slot in a department that they already considered full with the presence of Youssouf Fofana, Tijjani Reijnders, Yunus Musah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

After not being called up against Lazio the feeling was that Bennacer had his bags packed, and yet nothing got done. Now he will be reintroduced into the rotations and a sign of this is that he has also been included in the Champions League squad list.

From this moment on the mission for Bennacer’s recovery begins, not only from a physical point of view, but also psychological. The Algerian – who is currently with his national team – will have to be revitalised by Paulo Fonseca and the entire board, who made it clear he wasn’t wanted.

The report confirms the news that came from La Provence yesterday who provided an interesting backstory on the negotiation involving Marseille: Roberto De Zerbi and Mehdi Benatia had convinced the player to push the Rossoneri management for the move.

More Stories / Exclusive

SM: Milan put forward new offer to Rabiot – why Moncada is determined to land him

30 August 2024, 12:20

SM: Kalulu to Juventus far from done – why a stalemate has developed

15 August 2024, 17:10

SM Exclusive: Fonseca makes Colombo request to Milan management – the situation

22 July 2024, 9:00

Not only that, the former Sassuolo and Brighton coach has re-contacted Bennacer, assuring him that a new proposal from Marseille will arrive in January. The message was clear: play your games, focus on the next few months with Milan and then when the window reopens the paths could finally meet.

What has changed in recent days to allow Marseille to try again for Bennacer? Jordan Veretout has been officially sold. The former Roma and Fiorentina midfielder has signed with Lyon, and the proceeds (plus salary saved) can help formulate a significant contract proposal for Bennacer.

It is a move that was possible thanks to the special regulation within Ligue 1 which states that French clubs have the possibility of making a single market move, outside of the summer window – which closed on August 30 – but only on the condition that the negotiation is with another French club.