Update: N’Koudou has since denied the L’Equipe claims, in a series of understandably angry tweets.
It’s no secret Georges-Kévin N’Koudou was very keen to complete his Tottenham Hotspur transfer this summer, and claims from Marseille suggest it was due to a problem with his manager.
French club Marseille currently lie 15th in Ligue 1, which whilst not an absolute disaster considering the snowballing mess at the club over the past couple of years or so, is a disaster for the size of the club.
Last season, Marseille finished the season with Franck Passi in charge after parting ways with Michel in April.
It’s not the first time Passi has stepped into the role for Marseille, stepping up when Marcelo Bielsa left the club and providing help until his replacement was found.
However, not everyone is a fan. L’Equipe have a feature on Marseille’s situation in their Friday edition and say he’s lost the confidence of some for reasons including tactics, and a perceived lack of authority.
The French newspaper say Tottenham’s Georges-Kévin N’Koudou shared his own thoughts within Marseille’s group of players toward the end of last season: “If he stays next season, I’m leaving.”
Passi stayed, and N’Koudou spent weeks in a London hotel room refusing to give up on his dream of joining Tottenham Hotspur. Many footballers may have called it a day and gone back to France, but N’Koudou was determined, and perhaps L’Equipe have just revealed why.
