Luis Henrique expressed surprise at his return to Marseille, a move that followed a period of uncertainty regarding his future at the club. Meanwhile, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) overturned a financial sanction imposed on Chancel Mbemba by Marseille following the player’s appeal. Despite tensions between Mbemba and the club, the LFP’s decision has cleared the way for the center-back to receive the payment he is owed, while Montpellier HSC is reportedly considering a move for him.
Luis Henrique Shocked by His Return to Marseille
For the first time this season, Luis Henrique (22) was not included in Olympique de Marseille’s starting lineup last weekend as the club triumphed 5-0 over local rivals Montpellier HSC. Despite this, Henrique made his mark by scoring in the dominant win.
The young Brazilian winger has become an essential figure in Roberto De Zerbi’s plans this season, contributing four goals and three assists in eight matches. However, less than a year ago, it seemed Henrique had no future at Marseille, with the club looking for a buyer after his loan at Botafogo ended in January.
It seemed as though Henrique had overstayed his welcome, and patience with the winger, who joined as an 18-year-old in 2020, had run out. Struggling to adapt to life in Europe, he had only one goal and one assist at Marseille, leading many to wrongly believe his time as an attacking option was finished.
It was a combination of an intervention from then-manager Gennaro Gattuso and an injury crisis that kept Henrique in the team beyond the transfer window. As Henrique shared in an interview with Le Parisien, “Above all, the surprise was returning to Marseille. Afterward, I was able to play half a season, and then this summer, I expected a proposal for a contract extension to be able to help the club.”
When asked if moving to Marseille at such a young age (18) had been a mistake, Henrique was candid, saying, “It was a very quick decision to make. It’s something I often think about. I hadn’t played 20 games as a professional. It’s perhaps a common situation in Brazil; players with little experience are contacted by big clubs like Marseille. At the time, Botafogo was in urgent need of money.”
LFP Overturns Sanction Against Marseille’s Chancel Mbemba
A report from La Provence states that the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has overturned the financial sanction imposed on Olympique de Marseille’s Chancel Mbemba (30) after the player’s appeal.
Marseille had imposed a 23-day salary reduction on Mbemba after accusing him of missing medical exams upon his return from international duty with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The LFP reportedly announced their decision on Friday, ordering Marseille to pay the center-back the amount owed to him. Despite Mbemba’s return to training with the first team, tensions between him and the club are believed to be running high.
Montpellier Are Considering a Move for Chancel Mbemba
Roberto De Zerbi has made it clear that Chancel Mbemba will not be a part of his plans this season, a decision that has led to growing speculation about the defender’s future. Despite being a key player for Olympique de Marseille in previous seasons, Mbemba finds himself on the outs under De Zerbi’s management, with the club unlikely to rely on him moving forward. This situation has caught the attention of several clubs, with Montpellier HSC emerging as a potential destination for the 30-year-old center-back.
Montpellier, now under the management of former Marseille interim coach Jean-Louis Gasset, is reportedly interested in bringing Mbemba to the club. Gasset, who has long admired the Congo international’s defensive qualities, sees the experienced center-back as a valuable addition to his squad. With Montpellier looking to strengthen their defense, the possibility of a move for Mbemba seems increasingly likely, especially with the player’s current situation at Marseille.
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