Marseille Strips Højbjerg of Captaincy After Newcastle Transfer Refusal

Marseille has decided to strip Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of the captaincy after he declined a move to Newcastle United, despite both clubs reaching an agreement on the transfer. The decision reflects the club's stance on player commitment and their expectations during the transfer window.

Newcastle had reached an agreement with Marseille for around £15 million to sign Højbjerg, but the player refused to complete the transfer and preferred to continue with the French club.

The player's move has angered Marseille's management, who were counting on finalizing the deal and benefiting from its financial return, leading them to decide to strip him of the captaincy. Timothy Weah wore the captain's armband during the recent friendly against Atletico Madrid, while Hojbjerg played the full match.

Bruno Genesio clarified that the decision to remove the captaincy came from the club's management, emphasizing that he does not share this decision with the management, which reflects a clear disagreement within Marseille regarding how to handle the player's future.

Thus, Pierre Højbjerg's future with Marseille is in doubt despite his insistence on staying, as the ongoing crisis could open the door for new offers from other clubs during the remainder of the transfer window.