Marseille plunged into crisis with season just getting started

A CRISIS is never far away at Marseille but the speed at which things have unravelled for the French giants at the start of this season is unprecedented.

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The former European champions came into the campaign fresh from finishing second in Ligue 1 last season behind champions Paris Saint-Germain and with hopes of pushing the capital club closer this time around.

Roberto De Zerbi’s team also have Champions League football to look forward to and there was plenty of optimism around the Stade Velodrome on the back of the business done by the club in the transfer window.

Brazilian winger Igor Paixao joined from Feyenoord for a reported club-record fee of 35 million euros, while Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was another headline-grabbing recruit as he returned to OM following a year in Saudi Arabia.

Crucially, stars from last season like Mason Greenwood, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Leonardo Balerdi and Adrien Rabiot all stayed, leaving Marseille looking strong for their return to Europe's biggest stage.

But everything went awry on the opening night of the season last week-

FRENCH midfielder Adrien Rabiot has been transfer-listed by Marseille. | AFP.