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De Zerbi lashes out at Rabiot after 'extremely violent' Marseille row
Tom Weber
- Updated: 22 Aug 2025 15:10 BST
- 5 min read
News
Roberto de Zerbi has defended Marseille's decision to remove Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe from the team following their violent altercation last week.
The two players were involved in a physical clash after Marseille lost their opening game of the Ligue 1 season at Stade Rennais and had to be separated by teammates, staff and even bodyguards. Due to the commotion, a youth team player reportedly lost consciousness in the dressing room.
Punches were thrown as Rabiot accused Rowe of lacking commitment. On Monday, Marseille announced that both players had been removed from the squad and transfer-listed. Rowe is on the verge of completing a move to Bologna, while Rabiot's future remains uncertain.
Compared
Adrien Rabiot
M (C)
Marseille
Adrien Rabiot
M (C)
Marseille
VS
Jonathan Rowe
F (L), M (RL)
Marseille
Jonathan Rowe
F (L), M (RL)
Marseille
|
|
ETV |
|
| €12.7M - €15.5M | ETV Range | €13.7M - €16.7M |
| 30 years old (03 Apr, 1995) | Age | 22 years old (30 Apr, 2003) |
|
France
|
Nationality |
England
|
However, the mood at Marseille remains tense as Rabiot's camp, particularly his notoriously outspoken mother and agent Veronique, have sought to paint the France international as the victim of a smear campaign.
On Thursday, Rabiot's mother pointed out that Marseille had offered disgraced former Man Utd forward Mason Greenwood a second chance at a top-level career despite his charges of attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and controlling and coercive behaviour.
De Zerbi lashes out at Rabiot
Head coach Roberto de Zerbi has now broken his silence on the matter ahead of Marseille's clash with Paris FC on Saturday, echoing the words of president Pablo Longoria, who described the clash as 'an event of extreme violence.'
"I’m used to talking about what goes on in the dressing room, but things need to be sorted out," De Zerbi began. "It’s necessary. I have a question for you: in a workplace, we have two employees fighting, like in an English pub, with one teammate on the ground because he lost consciousness.
"What should the employer do in France? There are two solutions: either suspension or dismissal. [Sporting director Mehdi] Benatia and Longoria spoke on the phone on Saturday and Sunday. We waited until Monday to make an announcement.
"A clear decision was made to suspend the players from the squad while we wait to see how they feel. In a football club, as everywhere else, there has to be a hierarchy.
“This fight, where bodyguards had to defend us and separate the players, was the only time I’ve ever seen anything like it, although I don’t want to dramatise it. I come from the streets, I’m used to this kind of thing. But to see bodyguards defending us...
“Yes, they didn’t break any bones, but I’ve never seen a fight like that before. I saw the doctor trying to wake up the other player on the ground, Rowe and Rabiot fighting.
“For Rabiot’s mother to say that we gave Greenwood a second chance, it’s crazy. We’re talking about people’s private lives here - it’s not fair to talk about other people.
"We’re talking about a fight which took place in the workplace. So when Rabiot’s mother says I 'bark,' it’s true, as you can see in the series about OM. But sometimes I’m also capable of hugging Rabiot and showing him that we’re behind him.
"Ten days ago, when he was looking for a house, I told him I’d give him my house in Aix-en-Provence and I’d go and stay in a hotel. I did it for Adrien.
"But I don’t have to prostitute myself for a player who wins matches for us. Everyone has to show respect, from [Robinio] Vaz to Rabiot and [Pierre-Emile] Hojbjerg.”
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