Marseille coach at war with management after Dane Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg loses captaincy

[p]On Friday evening, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/marseille/SblU3Hee/"]Marseille[/a] were in action against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atlético Madrid[/a]. Under normal circumstances, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hojbjerg-pierre-emile/ITwS8wMo/"]Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg[/a] would have worn the captain's armband for Marseille, but that was not the case.[/p][p]The reaction to Hojbjerg's decision to reject a move to Newcastle United has been quick from owner Frank McCourt at the Orange Velodrome. Despite Marseille and Newcastle reaching a total agreement for a £15 million transfer, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder chose to turn down the offer that has left the French club's hierarchy fuming.[/p][p]Consequently, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/weah-timothy/4KWCbTaQ/"]Timothy Weah[/a] wore the armband, taking over the role from Hojbjerg, who had worn it throughout the entire pre-season. [/p][embed guid="b477ebf1-7e09-494a-9fb1-da899cada561" url="https://x.com/RMCsport/status/2088338088363717014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2088338088363717014%7Ctwgr%5E1405d223441f2d8cf4194f06f88400373bcbb961%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goal.com%2Fen%2Flists%2Fpierre-emile-hojbjerg-marseille-captaincy-newcastle-clubs%2Fblt61e8cc58e7efa431" social-type="twitter" /][p]Marseille coach Bruno Genesio states that the decision to strip Hojbjerg of the armband was dictated from above.[/p][p][b]"It is a decision dictated to me by the club's management. To be completely honest—and I intend to be—it is not a decision I agree with. But I am an employee, and I have obligations to fulfill,"[/b] he tells L'Equipe.[/p][p]This suggests that Marseille owner Frank McCourt may have played a role in the matter. McCourt has certainly previously been reported as being very unhappy that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg did not accept the move to Newcastle.[/p]