"Of course he lied to me!" Benatia settles scores with Longoria over OM transfer market

Benatia accuses Longoria of lying about OM's January transfer budget, saying the club lacked the €35m needed for signings De Zerbi expected.

Medhi Benatia has settled scores with former OM president Pablo Longoria in a Canal+ interview, claiming Longoria misled him and manager Roberto De Zerbi about the club's transfer budget during the January window.

Benatia recounted how De Zerbi believed OM would have €30m to spend on a top striker, only to learn the club actually needed to raise €35m through sales instead. "The coach thought we'd have 30 million euros to recruit in January," Benatia explained. "When I told him we actually needed to bring in 35 million, he said 'What? That's not what I was told!' And I said, 'Me neither!'"

When pressed on the matter, Benatia was emphatic: "He lied to me, I'm saying it on TV, he lied to me. Of course he lied to me!" The breakdown in communication preceded OM's collapse in early February, when De Zerbi was sacked on 11 February and Longoria stepped back days later. Benatia, who had submitted his resignation, ultimately stayed until the end of the season.