Marseille officially sack Roberto De Zerbi amid links to Manchester United

Olympique de Marseille have terminated head coach Roberto De Zerbi with immediate effect, the club confirmed on Thursday, a decision that instantly rekindles speculation linking the Italian to the Manchester United hot-seat.

De Zerbi’s departure follows a bruising fortnight in which Marseille were routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain and then eliminated from the Champions League after a 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge. The sequence accelerated crisis talks between owner, president, director of football and the 45-year-old coach, culminating in what Marseille termed “a difficult collective decision taken after careful consideration in the best interests of the club.”

A club statement read: “Olympique de Marseille and Roberto De Zerbi, coach of the first team, have announced the end of their collaboration by mutual agreement.”

The split brings the curtain down on a tenure that, while ultimately underwhelming, still featured notable highlights. Appointed from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, De Zerbi guided Marseille to second place in Ligue 1 last season and leaves the side fourth this term, albeit a distant 15 points behind runaway leaders PSG.

His reputation for expansive, high-tempo football—honed during a spell that turned heads across the Premier League—remains intact, and that pedigree is precisely why Old Trafford decision-makers are once again weighing his credentials.

United’s season has drifted into a holding pattern as the board wrestles with long-term structural questions. Behind the scenes, conversations about the managerial roadmap have never truly subsided, and the need for a coach who combines European pedigree with a discernible tactical blueprint has become paramount ahead of a summer that could yet include continental competition.

De Zerbi’s sudden availability thrusts his name back into those internal discussions. Sources close to the situation say the Italian’s familiarity with England’s top flight and his proven ability to elevate mid-table squads into European contention make him an attractive candidate. Since stepping in as interim, he has not lost in five matches, adding another layer of intrigue to the managerial roulette wheel.

Whether United accelerate their pursuit or continue to monitor alternatives, the sacking in southern France has added a fresh twist to what is already an increasingly complex managerial puzzle at one of Europe’s most scrutinised clubs.