Medhi Benatia has denied a rift in the Marseille squad surrounding Mason Greenwood.
Reports in France had claimed a pair of his team-mates were refusing to play with the forward.
Both Adrien Rabiot and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg were said to have requested Greenwood be dropped by manager Roberto De Zerbi.
It was even claimed that Hojbjerg had asked Benatia to stop playing the forward along with team-mate Luis Henrique.
However, the Marseille director has now rubbished those suggestions in a defiant response to the reports.
Benatia stated, via RMC Sport: “Can you imagine? He didn’t come to see me. And what’s more, you think I need a player to tell me that?
“Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is one of the most professional in the locker room, a guy who only wants to unite and carry everyone along with him, like Rabiot.
“Today, Adri is dying inside, he only wants one thing: to reach the Champions League.
“These two are truly two examples, and at no point did they come to see me to dismiss players. The people who say that don’t want the best for OM.”
Greenwood joined Marseille from Manchester United last summer on a five-year deal through to 2029.
The 23-year-old has since scored 17 goals and provided four assists in 31 appearances across all competitions.
Of those strikes, 16 have been in Ligue 1, with only Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele scoring more goals.
Rabiot had also reportedly called for Greenwood to be left outAFP or licensors Greenwood is the second highest scorer in Ligue 1 this season with 16 goalsGettyReports surrounding Greenwood come just weeks after it was claimed De Zerbi had lost the support of his players.
Benatia also clarified the manager’s situation, adding: “When the coach reads in L’Équipe that he has lost his squad, he is devastated. It’s absolutely false. No player is against the coach.
“Ask Rulli, Kondogbia, Hojbjerg, Rabiot… Even Bamo Meïté, who didn’t play in the first six months, never came to see me to criticize the coach.
“He gives love to everyone, and even a little too much for my taste. I always tell the players, the staff, and the employees that I’m not here to make friends. I only want people who work hard for OM.
“For the coach, it’s different; he has to have this relationship with his players; he works on emotion. And he hasn’t lost his squad.
“Mentalities have changed. If the guys haven’t understood that they have to win matches to get to the Champions League and they aren’t ready to sacrifice themselves to achieve that, then there’s a big problem.”
Marseille are third in Ligue 1 with five matches remaining as they occupy the final automatic Champions League spot.
Nearest rivals Lyon are just a point behind them, though, ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Montpellier.
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