Olympique de Marseille are certainly finding it incredibly difficult to offload their players. Just a few days after Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (31) turned down a move to Newcastle United, it is now Nayef Aguerd’s (30) turn to have a change of heart.

Reported to be on the verge of joining Real Sociedad – where he had apparently even passed his medical – the Moroccan defender has finally decided not to join the Basque club, with whom OM had previously reached an agreement, according to Foot Mercato.

This turnaround is said to have stemmed from a conversation between Aguerd and his future manager, Pellegrino Matarazzo. Whilst no details of this conversation have been revealed, Matarazzo is said to have convinced the Kenitra-born player to change his mind.

This is bad news for the Marseille management, who were hoping to see the deal go through as part of their summer squad clear-out, given the club’s significant financial constraints. With two and a half weeks left in the transfer window, it’s back to square one for Aguerd, for whom a way out is still being sought.