As his time at Marseille draws to a close, Medhi Benatia went out with a bang. After OM’s final Ligue 1 victory, the Moroccan sporting director fired a pointed jab at FC Nantes president Waldemar Kita, who was notably absent from La Beaujoire on the last day of the season.
Medhi Benatia had a score to settle. Speaking to reporters after Olympique de Marseille’s convincing 3-1 win over Rennes on the final day of Ligue 1, the outgoing OM sporting director seized the moment to call out Waldemar Kita directly. The Nantes president had chosen not to attend his own club’s last home game against Toulouse, citing security concerns — a decision that did not go unnoticed. Benatia did not hold back: « Until the very last game, I came to the stadium. I didn’t hide like Kita — I never hide. Kita wasn’t at the stadium tonight in Nantes. » The message was clear, deliberate, and in keeping with the long-running feud between the two men.
The roots of this public conflict stretch back to early 2025, when OM president Pablo Longoria sparked controversy by accusing Ligue 1 of widespread refereeing corruption. Kita responded sharply in L’Équipe, defending the league’s integrity — and Benatia never forgave him for it. Since then, the two executives have clashed repeatedly: cold shoulders in the stands, a tense confrontation at La Beaujoire in early May 2026, and a very public refusal by Benatia to apologise. As the Moroccan prepares to leave Marseille at the end of the season, he made sure to get the last word.