Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg has put a stop to Olympique Marseille’s plans to sell him to Newcastle United. Club management is “not amused” and responded by stripping him of the captain’s armband.
Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg is no longer the captain of Olympique Marseille. This removal has a backstory.
A transfer of Höjbjerg to Newcastle United—which had been arranged and planned by the French first-division club—fell through earlier this week because the 31-year-old midfielder reportedly refused to sign a three-year contract offered by the Magpies. This decision deeply displeased club owner Frank McCourt, as both clubs had reportedly previously agreed to a transfer fee of eight million euros plus two million euros in bonuses.
OM Under Financial Pressure
The reason behind the desired sale of the Danish international is OM’s obligation to the DNCG, the financial control authority for French professional soccer, to drastically reduce its payroll in order to subsequently register the contracts of one or more new players.
Saving Höjbjerg’s salary—which, at around six million euros per year, is reportedly the highest on the team—would ease the club’s budget burden; citing the club’s best interests, McCourt could not understand Höjbjerg’s refusal.
Weah Is the New Captain – Genesio Goes Along With It
Ahead of Friday night’s friendly against Atlético Madrid (1–2), there was a surprise on the match sheet: Following an intervention by club management, Höjbjerg was not listed as captain; instead, the armband was taken from him and given to Timothy Weah—even though the Dane had worn it throughout the preseason so far.
Bruno Genesio commented on this in a post-match interview: “This decision was imposed on me by the club’s management,” said the coach. “If I’m to be completely honest—and I will be—then I don’t agree with this decision. But I’m an employee and have to abide by certain obligations. That’s just the way it is, so that’s what we did.”