OM: "48 hours pass and there's no apology, nothing" — Benatia on Rabiot's dramatic departure

Benatia reveals Rabiot left OM after a dressing-room fight with Rowe at Rennes on 15 August 2025; the midfielder offered no apology in the 48 hours after the incident.

More than a year on, Medhi Benatia still struggles with Adrien Rabiot's departure from Olympique de Marseille. The French international, considered the club's best player, left after OM's opening Ligue 1 match at Rennes on 15 August 2025, which ended in chaos when Rabiot and teammate Jonathan Rowe came to blows in the dressing room.

Benatia had fought to bring Rabiot to the club and described him as a serious, hardworking professional. Tensions emerged on the team's return from summer break, with Rabiot questioning training schedules and meal times. In June, Benatia had secured owner Frank McCourt's backing to keep Rabiot, and the midfielder had assured him of his desire to stay and compete against PSG.

But everything changed at Roazhon Park when Rabiot and Rowe clashed in front of a helpless Roberto De Zerbi. The coach felt he had lost control of the dressing room and refused to work with either player again. Benatia hoped the matter could be resolved internally with an apology and fine, but Rabiot offered no explanation in the 48 hours that followed.

"Two days passed. I hoped he would send me a message. Every time my phone rang I hoped it was Adri. But 48 hours go by and there's no apology, nothing," Benatia said. After discussions between Pablo Longoria and McCourt, the club decided to part with both Rabiot and Rowe.