OM: the Greenwood controversy, his salary and his future… Beye sets the record straight

Speaking to the media on Friday, Olympique de Marseille manager Habib Beye was questioned on several hot topics. While avoiding fuelling the controversy surrounding Mason Greenwood’s situation in England, the Senegalese manager clarified his own future at OM.

As always, Olympique de Marseille is the talk of the town. And at a press conference on Friday, manager Habib Beye, faced with a flurry of news surrounding the Marseille club, had some messages to convey.

The first hot topic on the agenda? His view on the situation surrounding Mason Greenwood in England…

Beye is not “the public court”

Since his domestic violence case in 2022, the Olympique winger has been completely blacklisted in his home country. Named on the Tottenham bench on Tuesday, manager Roberto De Zerbi had to speak out to explain his support for the former Manchester United player and offer a form of mea culpa. When asked to comment on the matter, Beye refused to fuel any potential controversy.

“You know, I’m not a public court; I’m not here to judge people. I’m his coach. As for what’s happening in another country, I’m not going to comment on that. I wasn’t there when it all started. I see my role as a coach, and that’s all it amounts to for me right now in this aspect of life,” replied the Senegalese coach. Under Beye’s guidance since last February, Greenwood has retained his status as an undisputed first-team regular, and this commotion is unlikely to influence his decisions.

A clarification on his contract

In the same vein, Beye took the opportunity of a question about his future to set the record straight. Despite a contract running until June 2027, the former Stade Rennais coach is aware of the many discussions surrounding his future, as his continued presence on the Marseille bench will depend on qualifying for the Champions League. “Convinced I’ll be here next year? I’m convinced of it; I signed for a year and a half. Everything I have today, I’ve earned; I haven’t stolen anything. I don’t comment on those aspects. People who question the length of my contract, the quality of my contract – the reality is that I deserve exactly what I have,” he assured.

“And I’ll have to earn it, once again, through my work in the future. If I want an even bigger salary tomorrow, I’ll have to be an even better manager. If I want a three- or four-year contract tomorrow, I’ll have to be an even better manager. I’m very happy to be under contract until 2027. Does my second year depend on qualifying for the Champions League? It depends on several things. But what’s certain is that I came here to secure Champions League qualification. I know what I’ve been up against in this challenge; I arrived when we were fourth in Ligue 1, and today we’re third. We need to keep working, with my team and with the club, to be a successful side and achieve the club’s objectives, and there will be no doubt about my presence here at OM next season,” said the Marseille player with a smile. To dispel any doubts and bring a bit of stability to OM, Beye knows his mission: a top-three finish in Ligue 1.