Marseille created history when they became the first French club to win the Champions League in 1993.
But just weeks later, a criminal investigation was opened against the club following allegations that they bribed Valenciennes players to underperform against them in a Ligue 1 match so they would remain fresh for their European final against AC Milan six days later.
A trial took place in 1995, with Marseille midfielder Jean-Jacques Eydelie handed a one-year prison sentence and general manager Jean-Pierre Bernes a two-year suspended sentence along with a fine, while Valenciennes players Jorge Burruchaga and Christophe Robert were given six-month suspended sentences for their involvement.
Marseille were allowed to keep hold of their Champions League trophy, but were subsequently relegated to France’s second division for the 1994-95 season. The scandal still hangs over the club more than three decades later, but now they are hitting the headlines for a very different reason – their recruitment.
This summer, the club based in Southern France brought in former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager, and he got straight to work on strengthening his squad.
Marseille signed Mason Greenwood from Manchester United in the summer transfer window
They also brought in Elye Wahi (centre) in a deal worth £21m from Lens
Marseille also completed a deal for ex-PSG and Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot last week
New Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi (pictured) was happy to sign the controversial trio despite their chequered pasts
In came a trio of controversial stars in the shape of Mason Greenwood, Elye Wahi and Adrien Rabiot.
And these signings came off the back of the club missing out on Benjamin Mendy in January, after sporting director Mehdi Benatia identified the ex-Manchester City defender as a target, according to L’Equipe.
All four players have chequered pasts, but that hasn’t stopped Marseille pursuing them.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, controlling behaviour and assault of a teenage student less than two years ago.
The charges were subsequently dropped in February 2023, but it was mutually agreed between Greenwood and Manchester United that it was best for him to move elsewhere following the accusations and he spent last season on loan at Spanish outfit Getafe.
Then you have Wahi. Back in 2018, he was expelled from secondary school in France, with a disciplinary committee later telling Wahi’s stepfather, who was also his legal representative, that ‘under the verbal threat of physical violence, [Wahi] ordered three of his classmates to follow him into the restrooms and forced them to undress’.
Three years later in November 2021, an investigative reporter alleged Wahi ordered the three students to masturbate in front of him.
This accusation came a month after a 22-year-old woman filed a legal complaint against Wahi for allegedly punching her in the nose at a French nightclub the previous month.
She required medical treatment for her injuries, but Wahi denied the allegations and the case was closed with no further action taken.
Meanwhile, Rabiot has a history of causing trouble wherever he has been during his career. In May 2018, he refused to be on Didier Deschamps’ standby list for the World Cup, and did not play for the French national team again until 2020.
Greenwood was charged for multiple offences, including attempted rape, in October 2022, but the case was dropped the following February
Rabiot was suspended by PSG in 2019 for liking a video of Patrice Evra celebrating Man United’s win over the French club
Rabiot’s mother and agent, Veronique (pictured), was involved in an argument with Kylian Mbappe’s dad at Euro 2020 after the striker missed a penalty
Moving into the 2018-19 season, he was dropped to the PSG bench – ironically for a game against Marseille – in October 2018 for reporting late to a pre-match meeting. Two months later, he was ordered to train with the reserves after refusing to sign a new contract.
And he wasn’t done for the season, as in March 2019 he was suspended for going to a nightclub just hours after PSG were dumped out of the Champions League by Manchester United and liking an Instagram post by Patrice Evra celebrating the Red Devils’ win.
Having got back into the national team, Rabiot’s mother and agent, Veronique, then caused a stir at the Euros in 2021 when she confronted Kylian Mbappe’s father, Wilfried, in the stands following his penalty miss in France’s shootout defeat by Switzerland in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Mendy could have arrived at the Stade Velodrome before any of the other three showed up, having been linked with a January switch.
Mendy was accused of rape and attempted rape during his time at Manchester City and played his last game for the club in August 2021 after the allegations came to light.
He was cleared of the charges in July 2023, just days after being released by City following the expiration of his contract.
French side Lorient signed Mendy last summer, but Marseille were interested in landing the full back at the start of this year. Mendy ended up staying at Lorient as they were relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of last season.
The question is: why are Marseille interested in signing these players?
The answer appears simple: they managed to get them in cut-price deals due other clubs giving them a wide berth.
Benjamin Mendy (right) was accused of rape before being cleared last year, but that did not stop Marseille trying to sign the former Man City defender
Greenwood cost just £30m despite registering 14 goal contributions in LaLiga last season and still only being 22 years of age.
Wahi was even cheaper at £21m from Lens. He has been a consistent goalscorer in France’s top flight for years but does not turn 22 until January.
Rabiot didn’t even cost a penny, having been picked up on a free transfer after leaving Juventus in June.
De Zerbi’s influence also cannot be underestimated. He wanted Greenwood as soon as he joined Marseille and eventually got his man, while he also played a key role in getting a deal over the line for Rabiot.
A combined cost of £51m for three players was viewed as good business by Marseille, and it has worked out for them so far.
Greenwood has made a flying start to life in France, scoring five goals in as many Ligue 1 games, while Wahi also netted on his debut last month.
Rabiot is yet to make an appearance after only joining last week, but looks set to be an important part of the first team squad moving forward.
After finishing last season down in eighth, Marseille are joint-top on 13 points from their opening five games this time around, and could be PSG’s closest challengers for the title.
Greenwood has made a flying start at Marseille, scoring five goals in five games
Wahi has been a regular goalscorer in France for years, and got off the mark at Marseille last month
De Zerbi has vowed to treat his players like his sons, and has continuously defended Greenwood amid backlash over Marseille’s decision to sign the forward
Marseille may not be making many friends, but they have become a force once more in France’s top division.
Prior to Greenwood’s arrival, De Zerbi claimed: ‘When a player signs for the club, I consider him my child.
‘Even if I can pull his ear in private, I will defend him publicly. My players are like my sons.’
He has stuck to his word so far, and Marseille’s controversial new signings have reaped the benefits.
Whether they can continue to make the most of their career lifelines remains to be seen.