Marseille pay tribute to Pope Francis in Vatican visit | OneFootball

According to a report from L’Équipe, a delegation from Olympique de Marseille visited the Vatican on Wednesday evening to pay their respects to Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday morning. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi and the club president, Pablo Longoria, laid a wreath in honour of the pope.

The Marseille squad is currently in Rome following De Zerbi’s decision to move the team’s operations to his homeland for at least a fortnight. This unprecedented move is an attempt to refocus the club ahead of the final few weeks of the season and to escape the toxicity and pressures of their usual environment.

The club have reportedly limited the number of people around the squad this week, and L’Équipe explains that there is no member of the club’s communication department currently in Rome.

Marseille are in search of qualification to the Champions League but have suffered a series of setbacks in recent months, having lost five of their last eight fixtures. A crucial home fixture against Stade Brestois on Saturday will be a test to see if this Italian sojourn will have its intended effect.

GFFN | Nick Hartland