What De Zerbi sacking means for Weah and Juventus transfer agreement

Roberto De Zerbi has left his position as head coach of Olympique de Marseille, but this is not expected to change the transfer agreement between the Ligue 1 side and Juventus for USA international Timothy Weah. 

Will Marseille still sign Weah from Juventus after De Zerbi sacking?

Inter and Juventus both have players out on loan at Marseille this season: The Nerazzurri sent Benjamin Pavard to the Stade Velodrom at the end of the window, at the same time that they brought in Manuel Akanji from Manchester City, while Weah had joined from Juventus a few weeks earlier. 

The deal for Pavard was made up of a season-long loan deal for €2.5m and an option to buy for an additional €15m, however, recent reports in France and Italy claim that the Frenchman is increasingly likely to return to Inter at the end of the season. 

This is not the case for Weah, however, whose loan deal to Marseille includes a potential obligation to buy. According to Calciomercato.com, Marseille will trigger that obligation to buy once they secure mathematical safety in Ligue 1 this season. 

Marseille are currently in fourth place in the Ligue 1 table, 25 points clear of the relegation zone with 13 games of the season left to play. 

It is a case of when, rather than if Marseille trigger their obligation to buy. Once that happens, Juventus will be entitled to a fee of €15.4m plus up to €4.1m in add-ons. The Bianconeri have already received €1m for Weah’s season-long loan deal.