After bringing an end to his disappointing spell at West Ham United on the final day of the summer transfer window, Nayef Aguerd appeared a man revitalised back in familiar, French surroundings at Olympique Marseille.
But, as all footballing Francophiles will tell you, even the calmest of skies can give way to flash floods atop the Stade Velodrome.
The previously in-form Aguerd was ‘dreadful’ as Habib Beye’s reign got off to a poor start; Roberto de Zerbi’s replacement enduring the worst start of any Marseille boss in over 20 years. Aguerd was then outjumped and overshadowed by Charlie Cresswell – the long-standing West Ham United target – as their hopes of ending a 37-year Coupe de France drought went up in smoke.
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Premier League table after 32 gameweeks with West Ham's Crysencio Summerville in background
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A few days later, it was confirmed that the Moroccan had suffered an injury which threatens his World Cup involvement. And by the time Nayef Aguerd returns to the field, the man who so championed his £17.5 million move from West Ham to Southern France may no longer be in situ.
Ex-West Ham United defender Nayef Aguerd to lose his biggest Marseille backer
Medhi Benatia, Marseille’s sporting director, has already left L’OM once this season. He resigned in February following De Zerbi’s controversial sacking, before returning just two days later.
Now, two months on, owner Frank McCourt has confirmed Benatia will depart for good after all. If anything sums up the eternally tumultuous nature of life at Marseille, it is this whole sorry saga.
Nayef Aguerd looks dejected after West Ham's defeat to Sunderland
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
“Medhi was ready to leave. I called him to convince him to stay until the end of the season, but he told me, ‘I’m leaving at the end of the season’,” McCourt told reporters last week. “I accepted [his request].”
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What this means for Aguerd, only time will tell.
Benatia recommended his fellow Moroccan Aguerd to De Zerbi during the summer of 2025. Aguerd would also reveal the lengths the ex-Roma and Bayern Munich powerhouse would go to get him, pursuing the Hammers misfit until the final few hours of the transfer window.
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West Ham United's Konstantinos Mavropanos celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at London Stadium on April 10, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.
“He’d been talking to me about Marseille for a long time,” Aguerd said. “We couldn’t make it happen earlier, unfortunately.
“But he was my captain in the national team, a close friend, and always gave me advice. Talking about Marseille’s project with him was easy. I want to thank him for that.”
Now, of all the players to suffer from the departure of De Zerbi, Aguerd arguably has the most to lose. His form dipped under Beye, preceded by a season-ending injury, and now the man who brought him to Marseille in the first place will be gone by the summer.
Would it really surprise anyone if Aguerd followed Benatia out the door?
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