Marseille Board Punishes Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg After Rejecting Newcastle Move

Newcastle United’s failed move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has produced an unexpected consequence in France, days after the midfielder performed a late U-turn on a transfer that Marseille was prepared to sanction.

The 31-year-old initially appeared receptive to returning to the Premier League and playing at Newcastle, and the Magpies reached an agreement with Marseille worth approximately £15 million (€17.4 million). However, Hojbjerg subsequently changed his mind and rejected the move despite talks having progressed positively at first.

Now, Marseille’s board has responded by stripping Hojbjerg of the captaincy, as reported first by RMC Sport, with the decision becoming apparent when Timothy Weah instead wore the armband during Friday’s game against Atletico Madrid.

As OM manager Bruno Genesio confirmed after the game, the punishment came from Marseille’s hierarchy — not himself — with club chiefs angered by Hojbjerg’s refusal to complete a transfer they wanted to facilitate.

“It’s a decision that was dictated to me by the club’s management,” Genesio said. “If I want to be completely frank, it’s not a decision that I agree with.”

The decision follows The Daily Mail’s Simon Jones reporting earlier in the week that Marseille’s ownership was “furious” about the midfielder’s reversal once the club seemed to have lined up a sizable £15 million deal and were on the verge of cashing that fee.

“Daily Mail Sport understands Marseille’s owners have been left furious by this change of heart,” Jones reported. “The French club, keen to raise funds for their own summer spending, provisionally agreed to sell the Dane to the Toon.”

Marseille’s motivation here is decidedly financial. The Ligue 1 club wants to reduce its wage bill and generate funds for further transfers, making Newcastle’s willingness to complete a permanent deal attractive to the board.

“Talks had initially gone well but the 31-year-old changed his mind over the deal,” Jones reported.

Hojbjerg nevertheless remains part of Genesio’s playing plans for now, and the manager didn’t look happy about the decision nor willing to bench him at all. The midfielder started against Atletico and completed the game despite losing the armband, suggesting the board’s punishment is exclusively theirs.

With AC Milan also linked with Hojbjerg, the midfielder’s rejection of Newcastle likely means he’s still open to a move in case the Serie A side comes calling. Still, it’s definitely forced Newcastle to explore alternatives unless they noticeably improve the contract offer for the Dane to convince him to join NUFC.

What do you make of Marseille’s decision to strip Hojbjerg of the captaincy after he rejected Newcastle? Should the Magpies keep pushing for him or move on once and for all? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!