Olympique de Marseille have turned down a firm offer from Qatari club Al Sadd for Nayef Aguerd, with the French side judging an €8m bid insufficient for the Morocco international.
Aguerd remains at the centre of discussions over his future at Marseille after a proposed move to Real Sociedad collapsed. The defender had been expected to leave the club, but the deal ultimately fell through, leaving him still with the Ligue 1 side despite interest from several destinations.
Al Sadd had already come close to reaching an agreement with Marseille at the beginning of August. That proposal involved a €4m paid loan, together with an automatic €11m purchase option. However, the Qatari club changed its approach and returned with an offer for a permanent transfer.
The latest bid was understood to be worth about €8m. Marseille’s leadership rejected the proposal because it did not meet their valuation of the central defender.
The latest development follows a significant twist in the Real Sociedad negotiations. Aguerd’s former club had managed to convince both the player and Marseille that a move should go ahead, but the operation eventually broke down. As a result, Aguerd remains in Marseille while the club considers what happens next.
Marseille’s decision to reject Al Sadd’s offer indicates that they are not prepared to sell the defender below their valuation. It remains to be seen whether Al Sadd will return with an improved proposal or whether another club will make an approach for the Morocco international.
Al-Ittihad and Napoli are also monitoring Aguerd’s situation, according to exclusive information from Africafoot. The 29-year-old is under contract with Olympique de Marseille until 30 June 2030.
Aguerd earns €4,910,000 per year, equivalent to 3,191,500,000 CFA francs, and his market value is estimated at €15m.
The defender’s future is being discussed shortly before Marseille begin their French league campaign. Olympique de Marseille are due to face Strasbourg in the opening round of the championship.
The betting company 1xBet has listed Marseille as favourites for that fixture, offering odds of 1.64 for an Olympique de Marseille victory. A draw is priced at 4.20, while a Strasbourg win is offered at 4.30.
Aguerd’s immediate position therefore remains unresolved. The collapse of the Real Sociedad transfer and Marseille’s rejection of Al Sadd’s permanent offer have left the player at the club, with interest from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Italy still surrounding the Moroccan defender.