In an exclusive interview with Téléfoot, Mattéo Guendouzi discusses his recent transfer from Olympique Marseille to Lazio and why he felt he needed to leave.

In a recent interview with Téléfoot, French international Mattéo Guendouzi opened up about his departure from Olympique de Marseille (OM) and the ensuing move to Lazio.

Guendouzi, who joined Marseille from Arsenal in the summer of 2021 for €11m, left OM at the conclusion of the last summer transfer window, a decision influenced by what he suggests was the club’s turbulent atmosphere.

The 24-year-old midfielder expressed a fondness for his time at Marseille, a sentiment that initially seemed reciprocal, but was undercut by the club’s pursuit of financial stability. “It was truly a love from the first days. I was happy to live in Marseille. I was happy to play for this club,” Guendouzi stated, reflecting on his arrival at OM.

Guendouzi’s stint at Marseille, however, was not without its challenges. He pointed out the lack of consistency within the club’s management, which he felt affected his experience. “In the second season, it was no longer the same, there was a lot of instability. We changed coaches many times in two years. A new squad that changes each time, there was no continuity,” he said.

This instability, according to Guendouzi, was a critical factor in his decision to leave. He communicated a direct message to Pablo Longoria, OM’s president, implicitly criticising the club’s strategy of overhauling the team each summer.

After two seasons at OM, he was loaned to Lazio with an obligation to buy at €25m under specific conditions, following reports that he was set to leave months prior.

His move comes after a series of loans and transfers in the last five years, including his time at Hertha BSC on loan from Arsenal and his initial transfer from FC Lorient to Arsenal in 2018.

His loan fee this season was €1 million and Guendouzi remains contracted with Marseille until June 30, 2025.