Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia has confirmed he made an ambitious attempt to sign Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana in the summer window.
Benatia was a guest on RMC Sport’s After Foot and Le Phocéen have relayed his comments.
The France international has struggled with multiple injuries since joining Chelsea from Leicester City in August 2022. To put it in context, he’s missed over 650 days after moving to Stamford Bridge.
In April, we covered claims from France that Chelsea wanted to part ways with the centre-back. It was also reported Marseille were keen on bringing him back to France. A move never materialised.
As well as the 24-year-old defender, Atlético Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann was also linked to Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
When Benatia was specifically asked about Griezmann and the Chelsea player, he said: “Griezmann? No, I knew he was going to extend his contract with Atlético Madrid. I tried Wesley Fofana, who is from Marseille. I wondered if the Marseille context would be a good fit.”
The director hasn’t explained why a move for the centre-back never took shape.
It isn’t the first time that Marseille tried signing Fofana. In November 2024, he revealed Benatia called him earlier that summer. The Frenchman had seriously considered joining the French club, but Enzo Maresca convinced him to stay.