De Zerbi ties Marseille future to Benatia: 'The day he leaves, I leave too'

Roberto De Zerbi says he will leave Marseille the day that sporting director Medhi Benatia does, after the former defender cast doubt on his future at the club.

Marseille suffered a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophee des Champions on Thursday, having led 2-1 heading into the 95th minute.

Following that match in Kuwait, Benatia spoke to reporters in the mixed zone, saying: "You'll soon see that there will be others in our place, and we'll have to give them time to work because in Marseille, you never have time."

As such, there has been speculation that his time at Marseille could be nearing an end, having previously made similar hints last year.

Benatia's contract at Marseille runs to 2027, which is also when De Zerbi's deal is up, and the Italian says he cannot see a scenario where he stays beyond the Moroccan's tenure.

Asked about Benatia's comments ahead of Marseille's Coupe de France round-of-32 tie against Bayeux, De Zerbi said: "Benatia loves Marseille, perhaps even more than I do, since he was born and raised here.

"He's the one who brought me here. I'm a loyal and honest person. The day Benatia leaves, I'll leave too.

"I don't think he was referring to whether he was going to leave or not; that's something you'd have to ask him personally.

"I got here thanks to Medhi and Pablo [Longoria, Marseille president]. If one of those two is no longer here, given that they're the ones who brought me here… The day Benatia leaves, I'll leave too.

"Not because I can't work without him, because I've already done it. But to be fair, I don't think he was referring to leaving at the end of this season; he didn't mention it to me. But you'd have to ask him directly."