Key Takeaways:
- After a violent altercation in August 2025, Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe were suspended and subsequently transferred from Marseille
- Roberto De Zerbi credits the squad’s rejuvenation to the departure of Rabiot, rebuilding around Matt O’Riley and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to claim second place in Ligue 1 with 15 points
- Rabiot and Rowe have since moved to Serie A, and Rabiot has stated that all issues between the pair are now resolved
De Zerbi Reflects on Dressing-Room Incident
Months have passed since a tumultuous dressing-room incident rocked Marseille, leading to Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe’s hasty departures. Roberto De Zerbi has publicly addressed the fallout, asserting that the club has emerged stronger following the duo’s exits. The infraction occurred after Marseille’s opening Ligue 1 defeat in August 2025, plunging the squad into chaos as tensions erupted in what De Zerbi likened to “a bar fight.” President Pablo Longoria further characterised the confrontation as “extreme violence”.
🚨 Roberto De Zerbi 🇮🇹 revient sur l’affaire Jonathan Rowe – Adrien Rabiot :
« 𝗝𝗘 𝗡’𝗔𝗜 𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗦 𝗩𝗨 𝗖̧𝗔. 𝗘𝗧 𝗝𝗘 𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗗𝗔 𝗟𝗔 𝗥𝗨𝗘.
Mais cela nous a fait du bien, car le club a choisi de se passer de Rabiot, qui n’a pas voulu faire un pas en arrière. »… pic.twitter.com/mnypqRxHXC
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) October 9, 2025
The club’s swift response saw both midfielders suspended and subsequently sold, with Rabiot joining AC Milan and Rowe moving to Bologna. De Zerbi has since expressed that these decisions have proven beneficial for Marseille, offering much-needed stability and clarity. He previously commented on his disappointment regarding Rabiot’s lack of contrition, noting August remarks where he desired “sincere remorse” and recognition of “hierarchy” within the squad, but ultimately supported the move, stating Rabiot would not “take a step back”.
Rabiot’s History and the Aftermath of the Altercation
In further comments reported by Corriere della Sera, De Zerbi remarked: “Never. And I come from the streets. But it did us good, because the club chose to do without Rabiot, who didn’t want to take a step back.” The timing of his comments resonates amidst additional scrutiny, as Rabiot’s mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, publicly backed her son and criticised the Marseille manager.
Rabiot has previously become embroiled in controversy. He fell out with Paris Saint-Germain management in 2018, being demoted to train with the reserves over a contract dispute and publicly challenging club authority. In the same year, he faced backlash for refusing a standby place with France’s World Cup squad, resulting in a two-year exclusion from the national team. His professionalism was again criticised in 2019 when PSG suspended him after attending a nightclub following their Champions League elimination.
Marseille’s Turnaround with New Midfield Core
The consequences of the Rabiot-Rowe clash ultimately brought clarity to Marseille’s setup. Roberto De Zerbi rebuilt the midfield structure, anchoring it around Matt O’Riley – on loan from Brighton – whose connection with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has steadied the team. This partnership has been central to the club’s climb to second place in Ligue 1 with 15 points, trailing only PSG. Their resurgence has also carried over to continental competition, epitomised by a commanding 4-0 victory over Ajax.
| Player | Previous Club | Current Club | Incident Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrien Rabiot | Marseille | AC Milan | Transferred after suspension |
| Jonathan Rowe | Marseille | Bologna | Transferred after suspension |
| Matt O’Riley | Brighton (loan) | Marseille | Key to midfield resurgence |
| Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | Marseille | Marseille | Formed new midfield partnership |
Resolution Between Rabiot and Rowe
The initial skirmish, which followed heated exchanges post-match, escalated into physical violence witnessed by teammates, with security required to intervene and one younger player briefly knocked unconscious. Ultimately, the club’s decision to sell both Rabiot and Rowe drew a line under the episode and allowed Marseille to refocus. Despite his mother’s advocacy, De Zerbi maintained his prioritisation of professionalism over personal reputation. After joining Milan, Rabiot clarified that all differences with Rowe had been reconciled and that he wished his former teammate success, firmly rejecting any ongoing animosity between them.
