Football

OM president Stéphane Richard discusses transfer window and team prospects

Stéphane Richard, president of OM, addressed transfer window challenges and Bruno Genesio's future in various media appearances.

2 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: OM president Stéphane Richard discusses transfer window and team prospects — Archive photoPhoto: Christophe Pelletier · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Stéphane Richard, the president of Olympique de Marseille (OM), recently participated in several shows to discuss the challenges facing his club following the closure of the summer transfer window. Contrary to expectations, OM did not register any new player arrivals, a situation unprecedented in the club's recent history, according to sources from RMC Sport.

Richard acknowledged that this transfer window was particularly difficult due to financial tensions. During his interview on RMC, he stated that financial targets set for the 2026-2027 season had not been met. The club had to focus on player sales and reducing its wage bill in order to comply with guidelines established by the DNCG, the financial regulatory authority for football in France.

During the show 'Rothen s'enflamme', Stéphane Richard also discussed his relationship with coach Bruno Genesio, revealing that it had been tested, particularly due to discussions around the future of Igor Paixao. Richard explained that tensions were palpable, but he assured that Genesio had never considered resigning.

In parallel, Richard mentioned his meeting with Tim Cook, former head of Apple, during his appearance on BFM Business. While this aroused interest, he was primarily questioned about OM's matters, particularly strategic decisions concerning the team.

When asked about the captaincy, Richard stated that the decision now rests with Bruno Genesio regarding Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's return as captain. This could mark a turning point in team management due to the currents of uncertainty surrounding the current period.

Finally, despite the challenges, Stéphane Richard set an ambitious goal for his first season at the helm of OM: to qualify the club for a European competition. He took care to be cautious in his statements regarding sporting expectations. The club's management thus seems to be navigating between ambitions and financial realities.

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