Marseille Under-21 winger Jonathan Rowe has been suspended following a heated altercation with teammate Adrien Rabiot in the dressing room. The incident occurred after Friday night’s opening day defeat against Rennes, leading to a significant fallout among the players.
Tensions Rise After Defeat
Frustrations reached a boiling point post-match, with Rowe facing criticism for his performance. Multiple teammates expressed their dissatisfaction with what they perceived as a lackluster display from the former Norwich star. The situation escalated rapidly, culminating in a heated exchange between Rowe and World Cup winner Rabiot, which reportedly turned physical.
Immediate Action Taken by Marseille
In response to the incident, Marseille management swiftly suspended both Rowe and Rabiot. As a result, the duo will not participate in training with the first-team squad and may miss the upcoming home game against newly-promoted Paris FC this Saturday.
- Players Suspended: Jonathan Rowe, Adrien Rabiot
- Upcoming Match: Marseille vs. Paris FC
- Potential Consequences: Rowe’s future at Marseille is now under scrutiny.
Possible Departure on the Horizon for Rowe
There are suggestions that Rowe could be on his way out of the club after spending last season on loan from Norwich City before making his move permanent this summer. Following the incident, Serie A clubs Roma and Bologna have reportedly shown interest in the talented winger.
Manager’s Response
Marseille’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, expressed his outrage over the team’s performance and the ensuing altercation. “The others beat us on the pitch, and we come in here and fight among ourselves,” he stated. “You know what that means? That we have small balls. In Marseille, we need to have big ones.”
Marseille’s Ambitious Summer Transfers
Despite the recent turmoil, Marseille had been enjoying a successful summer transfer window. The club has made several notable signings, including:
- Angel Gomes (Lille, free transfer)
- CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley, free transfer)
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (re-signed)
- Tim Weah
- Neal Maupay
- Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
- Igor Paixao (Feyenoord)
With such a stacked squad, expectations were high for Marseille to challenge reigning Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Looking Ahead: A Title Challenge?
As the new season unfolds, Marseille aims to compete seriously against PSG. However, after PSG’s recent win at Nantes, Marseille finds themselves playing catch-up ahead of their bitter rivalry matchup at the Velodrome on September 21.
At this rate, one might wonder if Marseille needs to invest in boxing gloves alongside their football boots—to settle their differences properly before refocusing on their football ambitions.