Benjamin Pavard has officially announced his departure from Olympique de Marseille, concluding his loan spell with the French club. The defender is now set to return to Inter Milan, where his future is also reportedly in doubt.
Pavard joined Marseille on the final day of last summer’s transfer window and departs following their last league match. His time in southern France was largely disappointing, and Marseille has decided against activating their €15 million purchase option. This follows a similar decision by Nottingham Forest earlier in the season, indicating a trend of clubs passing on making his move permanent.
The defender shared an emotional farewell message on Instagram, expressing gratitude despite a challenging year. He stated, “Wearing this shirt will remain an unforgettable experience in my career and in my life. I always tried to give my all on the pitch and to represent this club with respect and dedication. I leave with many emotions, precious lessons learned and the memory of a dressing room that stayed united until the end. Thank you to the club, the staff, my teammates and everyone who supported us this season. Best of luck to Marseille for the future.”
Despite the gracious parting words, the reality is that Pavard returns to Inter with a contract running until 2028, making him a significant financial commitment. Reports suggest the club has already informed the player that his future does not lie with them, and the coming weeks will focus on finding him a new club.
With his market value having decreased over the past 18 months, Pavard’s options may be more limited than anticipated, following his initial move from Bayern Munich in 2023.
English Translation:
Benjamin Pavard has officially said goodbye to Olympique de Marseille following the end of his loan spell. The French defender is now scheduled to return to Inter Milan, as the club considers his future, though all indications suggest his time at the Nerazzurri is also coming to an end.
The defender joined Marseille on the final day of last summer’s transfer window and concludes his time with the club after their final league fixture, a 3-1 victory against Rennes.
His tenure in the south of France was largely underwhelming, with Marseille opting not to exercise their €15 million purchase option. This marks the second club in the same season to forgo making his transfer permanent, following a similar decision by Nottingham Forest in the first half of the campaign.
Pavard took to Instagram to mark his departure, adopting a warm and grateful tone despite what had been a difficult professional year. He wrote, “Wearing this shirt will remain an unforgettable experience in my career and in my life. I always tried to give my all on the pitch and to represent this club with respect and dedication. I leave with many emotions, precious lessons learned and the memory of a dressing room that stayed united until the end. Thank you to the club, the staff, my teammates and everyone who supported us this season. Best of luck to Marseille for the future.”
The gracious farewell contrasts with a stark reality. Pavard returns to Inter carrying a contract worth €5 million per season that extends until 2028, making him a costly and difficult asset to move on.
The club has already communicated to the defender that his future does not lie at Appiano Gentile, and the upcoming weeks will be dedicated to finding him a new destination. With his reputation impacted by a challenging 18 months and his market value considerably lower than when he arrived from Bayern Munich in 2023, the available options for him may be more restricted than he would have hoped.