Chancel Mbemba, the Congolese international defender capped 97 times, gave a poignant testimony about his last year at Olympique de Marseille. Excluded from the professional squad throughout the 2024-2025 season due to disciplinary and medical disagreements, Mbemba now admits that he « suffered a lot » during this complicated period of his career. This sidelining, triggered after an altercation with a club executive, caused a long absence from the field that weighed heavily on him both morally and professionally.
The Congolese international later challenged his suspension in court and filed a complaint for moral harassment against OM with the Marseille prosecutor’s office. Despite the conflict, Mbemba chose not to elaborate on the matter during a press conference after signing with LOSC in September 2025, preferring to focus on his sporting future while acknowledging the suffering experienced during his time at Marseille. The central defender stated: « This is not the subject. Sorry, you have to talk to my lawyer, I am focused on football, but I suffered, I suffered a lot. »
Having joined LOSC on a free transfer after his contract with OM ended on June 30, 2025, Mbemba hopes to revive his career on better terms. His last appearance for Marseille was on May 19, 2024, where he captained the team in a Ligue 1 match. Since then, he has endured a season without competition, maintaining an intensive training regimen to keep his physical level despite being excluded from the professional group.
At 31 years old, with European experience at Anderlecht, Newcastle, and FC Porto, Mbemba is entering a new chapter with Lille where he aims to reclaim his place on the pitch and move past a year marked by pain and controversy. His situation illustrates how complicated relationships between players and clubs can impact athletes’ careers, even at the highest international level.