Benatia Reveals: "I Tried to Bring El Aynaoui to Marseille, I Don't Understand Why He Plays So Little at Roma"
June 30, 2026 · Marta Delgado
Medhi Benatia, former defender of Roma, discusses his experience with Neil El Aynaoui and comments on Italy's absence from the World Cup.
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Medhi Benatia, who previously played for Roma and now serves as the sporting director of Olympique Marseille, recently gave an extensive interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport, touching on various topics related to Italian football and the Giallorossi. The Moroccan director specifically addressed his compatriot Neil El Aynaoui, revealing that he attempted to sign him for Marseille prior to El Aynaoui's agreement with Roma. "He is a very strong player because he combines quality and quantity. I don't understand why he has played less at Roma than I would have expected. I tried to bring him to Marseille, but he was too expensive," Benatia stated regarding the Moroccan midfielder, who has made 34 appearances, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists for the Giallorossi this season. Benatia also commented on Italy's absence from the World Cup: "It's greatly missed; Italy is in my heart, it has given me everything. Unfortunately, the reality is that the best Italian forwards are inferior to the reserves of France's attack. I truly hope Italy can turn things around soon."
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