Marseille Releases Footage of Training Ground Confrontation

Footage from Marseille’s training sessions has surfaced showing a heated altercation between head coach Roberto De Zerbi and midfielder Ismael Kone during last season. The incident occurred amidst disciplinary tensions, with De Zerbi visibly upset after losing possession during drills.

The coach can be seen instructing Kone to “call your agent” and growling, “go inside,” after dismissing the player’s efforts. As Kone turns away, De Zerbi yells several times for him to “call your agent,” prompting a confrontation as the midfielder responds with a refusal to engage. Several teammates intervened to prevent the argument from escalating further.

De Zerbi explained that he believed Kone’s level was not suitable for Olympique Marseille, citing inconsistent behavior and a lack of readiness despite his potential. The 23-year-old, signed last summer for £15 million from Watford, was loaned to Rennes after just six months, having only made eight league appearances.

Team officials noted that the confrontation may have shocked some players, but De Zerbi justified his approach, saying he was accustomed to such intense moments from his 30 years in coaching. The rivalry culminated in Kone scoring against Marseille on the final day of the season, though Rennes lost 4-2. He has since moved to Sassuolo on a season-long loan, with a potential option for the deal to become permanent.

Marseille has shared footage of the heated exchange between Roberto De Zerbi and Ismael Kone during training last season.