Football returns to France this weekend after a turbulent summer periodKylian Mbappé’s departure to Real Madrid has weakened PSG and Ligue 1. A situation that has caused a Deep crisis in French football which has had to significantly reduce its financial demands for the television rights of the competition.
This has meant that many of the teams in the French First Division have had to tighten their belts. This transfer window has been used by Ligue 1 clubs to balance their accounts by selling some of their most lucrative players. A dramatic moment in which two teams have survived, in addition to the imperious PSG: Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyon.
The two teams have been the main drivers of the market in France. Both Olympic teams have made 19 signings -ten from Marseille and nine from Lyon- to try to make a statement in the domestic championship. The goal of the institutions is to return to the Champions League, but without losing sight of a possible ‘sorpasso’ over the capital.
The ‘De Zerbi era’ begins
OM, chaired by Spaniard Pablo Longoria, began the market with its star signings. Roberto DeZerbiafter being linked to several of the best teams in Europe, decided to lead the project The Olympians with a three-year contractThe Italian is the star of a team that has made 10 new additions to the market for a value of 116 million euros.
Marseille’s biggest signing in this market has been Mason Greenwood (22 years old). The British winger, who was on loan at Getafe last season, arrived at the Vélodrome in controversy due to the case that kept him out of Manchester United for two seasons. Marseille paid 26 million euros for a player who aspires to be a difference-maker in attack and fits perfectly into De Zerbi’s football.
The rest of the signings have served to reinforce all the lines. Notable among them are Gerónimo Rulli (4 million from Ajax), Elye Wahi (25 million from Lens) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (on loan from Tottenham). The jewel in the crown is Valentín Carboni (19 years old). The Argentine, champion of the Copa America, is One of the biggest projects in South American football and is the most expensive signing of the only French team to be European champion (40 million euros stipulated in the purchase option).
A record investment in Lyon
For its part, Olympique Lyon is under the umbrella of the Eagles Football Group which also has a stake in Botafogo and Crystal Palace. The property of the American tycoon John Textor has made the largest investment since its arrival in December 2022. The team led by Pierre Sage has spent 135 million euros in the transfer windowa record figure in the club’s history.
The most interesting signings are those of Georges Mikautadze (18 million) and Ernest Nuamah (28 million). The Georgian striker arrives after having a good Euro Cup where he was equal as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Ghanaian winger signs from RWD Molenbeek, a Belgian team owned by the Eagles Football Group, and was on loan last season at The Lions.
A team complemented by important signings such as Moussa Niakhaté (32 million euros), Orel Mangala (23 million) or the return of Said Benrahma (14 million). Lyon and Marseille are ready to wage war in French football and take the throne of Luis Enrique’s team.
