An investigation by La Provence has claimed that a senior Olympique de Marseille executive filed a police incident report following an internal dispute with sporting director Medhi Benatia during the summer of 2024.

According to the report, tensions escalated between Benatia and Cécilia Barontini, who at the time was part of the club’s senior leadership structure after being appointed to oversee the administration alongside Alban Juster by then-president Pablo Longoria.

La Provence claims that Barontini opposed several sporting decisions taken by the club’s hierarchy during the transfer window, including the signing of Mason Greenwood. She is also said to have objected to a potential move for Youcef Atal, who had previously received an eight-month suspended prison sentence and a €45,000 fine from a Nice court after sharing an antisemitic video following the 7 October 2023 attacks.

The outlet adds that Barontini also raised concerns regarding the conduct of Ali Zarrak, a figure close to Benatia within Marseille’s sporting structure.