Olympique Marseille has officially placed Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe on the transfer list following a heated altercation after their Ligue 1 opening-day defeat to Rennes. The French club confirmed the decision in a statement, citing "unacceptable behavior" in the dressing room after the 1-0 loss. The incident has thrown Marseille's season into turmoil and raises questions about team unity.
The clash reportedly occurred after Friday's match against Rennes, where Marseille lost despite Rennes playing with 10 men for over an hour. A stoppage-time goal sealed the victory for Rennes, leaving tensions high in the Marseille dressing room. According to reports, a heated exchange between Rowe and Rabiot escalated into a physical confrontation, requiring intervention from teammates and staff. Some reports indicate the argument involved accusations and blame-shifting.
Marseille's management, along with coach Roberto De Zerbi, swiftly responded by suspending both players and placing them on the transfer list. The club communicated the decision to Rabiot and Rowe on Monday. De Zerbi reportedly questioned Rabiot's commitment prior to the incident. The club's actions send a strong message about the expected standards of conduct within the team. De Zerbi has expressed his anger and criticized the squad's lack of unity.
The availability of Rabiot and Rowe has already attracted interest from other clubs. Rabiot, the 30-year-old French midfielder, is reportedly being monitored by Serie A clubs such as Inter Milan, Juventus, and Roma. Juventus, where Rabiot played for five seasons before joining Marseille, may be interested in a reunion. Rowe, a 22-year-old English winger, has reportedly agreed to personal terms with Bologna, although other Serie A clubs like Roma and Atalanta are also interested. Marseille are reportedly seeking €15 million for Rabiot and €20 million for Rowe.
Rowe, who signed with Marseille from Norwich City last year, scored three goals in 28 games in his first season in Ligue 1. Rabiot joined Marseille last season after his contract with Juventus expired and played a key role in the team's Champions League qualification.
The incident and subsequent disciplinary action come at a challenging time for Marseille. The team is looking to rebound from their opening-day defeat and faces the pressure of Champions League expectations. The absence of Rabiot and Rowe could disrupt team chemistry and require De Zerbi to adjust his plans.
Marseille's next match is August 23 against Paris FC. It remains to be seen how the team will respond to the internal conflict and whether they can maintain their focus amid the ongoing transfer speculation.
