Ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Montpellier HSC, the former Norwich City academy product was asked about the new England manager Thomas Tuchel. “He’s done great things before and he’s a great manager,” Rowe replied. “If I get called up then I’ll be a very happy guy of course (laughs).” 

Jonathan Rowe: ‘I’ll have to prove and earn that spot.’

Rowe further added, “I’d like to stamp my mark on the national team. When that will be I don’t know, but I’ll have to prove and earn that spot.” The winger will likely be looking towards fellow countryman Angel Gomes (24) whose performances for Lille OSC earned him a call-up to the national team under interim manager Lee Carsley. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The winger was asked to explain the differences between the French league and the second tier of English football in a press conference held today. “It’s a step up from the Championship,” Rowe stated. “The Championship last season was very difficult. There was a lot of quality and it was unpredictable.” 

He continued, “Here there’s more quality. There are bigger players. And I would say it’s even a bit more physical [in Ligue 1] and a bit more technical. It’s a good way to test yourself and it’s a good challenge.” 

Rowe has impressed during his limited minutes for the Marseille squad. The winger has been an effective presence off the bench for his new club and even won Goal of the Month for September with his last-minute winner against arch-rivals Olympique Lyonnais. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

“He worked very well [over the international break] and he will start on Sunday,” the Marseille head coach stated, “I’m very happy with what he’s done. He’s humble and hard-working, and he’s a very high-level player. We’re very proud to have him with us. He’s one of the players of the calibre of Højbjerg and Greenwood.” 

After missing out on the victory over Olympique Lyonnais, Rabiot made his debut off the bench for the club in the 1-0 loss to RC Strasbourg Alsace before making another substitute appearance in the 1-1 draw with Angers SCO. 

Adrien Rabiot on schedule for first start for Marseille 

It had been expected that De Zerbi would rely more heavily on the midfielder after the international break once Rabiot had more time to train with the squad as he had missed both pre-season and the start of the season due to joining the club in late September. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Mbemba had been training with the reserves following a summer in which Marseille had been keen to part with the Congolese international. The club had placed him in the “loft” as they tried to encourage their defender to find a new team and free themselves of a high-earning contract that was entering its final year. 

After being a key player in the Marseille squad since joining the club from FC Porto in 2022, Mbemba was unimpressed by his new situation. There was a reported argument between him and a member of the backroom staff Ali Zarrak to which the defender was sanctioned.

Chancel Mbemba returns to Marseille training ahead of Montpellier visit

Mbemba received a further sanction after he failed to report to a medical examination when returning from international duty. However, the defender ahead of the game against Montpellier HSC on Sunday evening was part of the club’s training. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Thauvin is opening up about the conflict that he and Payet had during their various times as teammates in an interview for the show Zack en Roue Libre.

The Udinese forward says that when he originally arrived at OM in 2013, he had “a lot of respect for this great player.” He says initially, Payet and Mathieu Valbuena (40) were at odds with each other because, according to Thauvin, the former West Ham attacker wasn’t passing the ball.

Payet was also not passing to Thauvin, according to the 2018 World Cup winner, with tensions eventually boiling over when the man from Orléans says he was wide open on a couple of occasions in on goal but never got the proper service from Payet.

In 2015, Payet would move to West Ham United, with Thauvin joining Newcastle United, but that was not the end of their issues. Both players eventually wound up back in Marseille in 2017 with their differences apparently squashed.

“It was going really well for the first two years,” says Thauvin about the reunion with Payet, which was until the club began struggling to get results. Manager André Villas-Boas summoned the two into a meeting when the results weren’t going their way.

“For me, there is no problem,” said Thauvin, adding that Payet didn’t say anything to him.

“We continued, and sometime later there was a problem at the club with Dimitri” according to Thauvin.

Tensions continued to grow to the point where Thauvin claimed that Payet spoke up in front of everyone to call him out. Thauvin claims that Payet said, “Flo (Thauvin), if you have a problem, tell me because you are playing for yourself, you have to respect the team.”

“He stuck a knife in my back,” Thauvin continues. After that, Thauvin says they weren’t on speaking terms, though he says he was glad to hear that Payet had a problem with him because he was unaware.

In 2021, Thauvin moved to Mexico to play for Tigres alongside former Marseille striker André-Pierre Gignac (38) before moving to Serie A for his current club, Udinese, in late January 2023.

Payet would remain at OM until he and the club mutually agreed to part ways last year, with the Euro 2016 runner-up going to Brazil, where he currently features at Vasco da Gama.

The two saw each other last year during the Monaco Grand Prix, where they reconciled, to an extent. “He came himself to personally shake my hand,” recalls Thauvin, who interpreted that as Payet’s admission of having messed up.

During their time at Marseille, Thauvin and Payet played a big part in leading Les Olympiensto to the 2017-18 Europa League final.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre

Rowe came off the bench during the Choc des Olympiques to help Marseille take all three points away from their bitter rivals. The Englishman recorded his debut goal for the club (after joining from Norwich City over the summer) with a last-minute winner as he escaped the Lyon defenders and powered a shot past Lucas Perri (26).

Rowe has settled well into the Marseille team with the Englishman content to take his chances from limited minutes. Rowe has yet to start a game for his new club but in each substitute appearance has stated his case for why manager Roberto De Zerbi should trust him further. 

Has Jonathan Rowe done enough to stake his place in the Marseille team? 

In the weekend before the international break, Rowe found the net again with a goal in the 1-1 draw against Angers SCO. The winger was one of the few bright sparks in a disappointing Marseille performance and perhaps did enough to earn his first start in this weekend’s visit to Montpellier HSC. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Despite significant recruitment in the midfield sector, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Ismael Koné also arriving over the summer, sporting director Mehdi Benatia seemingly isn’t opposed to adding further in this area of the pitch. As reported by La Provence, OM also have an interest in another Juventus midfielder, Paul Pogba. He is expected to terminate his contract with the Serie A club upon his return to football, having seen his ban reduced from four years to 18 months. 

However, it is another Juventus midfielder now being linked with a move to the Vélodrome – Arthur Melo (28). His agent, Federico Pastorello, in quotes relayed by Fabrizio Romano, revealed that Marseille were interested in the Brazilian midfielder, who is yet to feature at all for Juventus this season.

“We need to find a solution. He’s never playing and it’s a pity. We spoke to Olympique de Marseille. He could be interesting for Roberto De Zerbi with his quality skills. It’s not an easy one due to extra-UE players rule, but we will see,” said Pastorello. Melo is therefore the latest player added to OM’s list of potential targets.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

After being handed an initial 4-year ban for doping, Pogba has seen his ban reduced to 18 months meaning he can return to training in January. The 31-year-old could make a return to playing in March. However, his current club do not see a future for the former Manchester United midfielder at the Allianz Riviera and are looking to terminate his contract, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

Marseille are not the only club to show an initial interest in Pogba. The Juventus midfielder has also attracted interest from clubs in the MLS. American clubs are monitoring the Frenchman’s contract situation and could make a move should be made a free agent.  

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Carboní struggled in pre-season with a muscular injury, which saw him miss the start of the season. In his absence, Amine Harit impressed. Limited to just one start, against SCO Angers in Marseille’s last match before the international break, he then joined up with the Argentina squad, where he suffered the season-ending injury. 

His loan to Les Phocéens included an option to make the deal permanent for a fee of around €40m. However, in the wake of the injury, Inter Milan and Marseille are now in talks regarding a loan termination, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. Carboni could therefore return to the Serie A side this winter in order to continue his recovery. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The club’s medical team say that Valentín Carboni (19) suffered a cruciate ligament sprain on his left knee and will undergo surgery as soon as possible. Carboni will miss the remainder of the season for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Carboni came to Marseille on loan from reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan and had only featured in four Ligue 1 fixtures this season before suffering a serious injury.

In their 1-0 defeat versus RC Strasbourg Alsace, Carboni was replaced by Luis Henrique (22) with fewer than 20 minutes remaining, and he has not seen any game time since.

While Carboni is on a season-long loan deal, Marseille have an option to buy him at the end of that spell with a counter-option in favour of Internazionale.

Marseille’s next encounter takes place away from home on October 20 against Montpellier HSC at Stade de la Mosson.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre