Marseille boss hands in resignation over Ntcham signing

Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas has handed in his resignation after the French club signed Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham.

The Portuguese – who previously had managerial stints at Tottenham and Chelsea – told a media conference that he’d informed the club’s board he didn’t want to sign Ntcham.

Later, the club said it was taking disciplinary action against Villas-Boas.

Marseille announced late on Tuesday night they had signed the French midfielder on loan from Celtic.

Trading the 🍀 for the⚪🔵@OlivierNtcham est Olympien. Our newest midfielder joins from @CelticFC.

Welcome to Marseille, Olivier! pic.twitter.com/x9TVQQAvbq
— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) February 1, 2021

Villas-Boas told a news conference on Tuesday: “It was not a decision that I took. It was specifically a player that I said no to.

“I was not aware of it, I learned of the signing when I woke up and went on the number one Marseille website.

“I offered my resignation through saying that I was not in agreement with the sporting strategy.

“The board has not yet given me final feedback. I do not want money, I just want to leave. A gentlemen’s agreement about signing players has been broken.”

Ntcham has returned to his homeland on a deal lasting until the end of the current season.

The Frenchman has been consistently linked with other clubs in recent transfer windows and failed to earn a regular starting place in Neil Lennon’s side.

The 24-year-old, who had joined Celtic from Manchester City in 2017, is under contract with the Glasgow club until 2022, having signed a contract extension a year after arriving in Scotland.