Quinten Timber on OM's Uniqueness: De Zerbi's Cryptic Remark and Club's Atmosphere

Quinten Timber joined Olympique Marseille (OM) in January, brought in by Roberto De Zerbi from Feyenoord. However, De Zerbi departed just days after Timber's arrival. Before leaving, the Italian coach took the time to brief the Dutch midfielder on the specific characteristics of the Marseille club and its singular environment.

Timber's time under De Zerbi was brief, lasting barely two weeks. The Italian coach, who had personally recruited him to OM from Feyenoord Rotterdam, left his post shortly after Timber signed a contract until 2030. This turn of events presented an uncomfortable situation for the native of Utrecht, who was trained at Ajax. Nevertheless, De Zerbi managed to provide Timber with an insight into the Phocaean club and its distinct context before his departure.

"He told me before I signed: 'You're coming here, but you need to be aware that Marseille is something else'," the 25-year-old player revealed in an interview with L'Équipe. "We had the match against Lens (3-1 on January 24th), then we went to Bruges (0-3 on January 28th). I wasn't qualified for the Champions League and stayed in the stands. Then we played Paris FC, we were playing very well, before collapsing in a few minutes (2-2 on January 31st). After the match, the coach pulled me aside and said: 'You see? OM is special'."

Génésio is Very Clear About What He Wants

Prior to De Zerbi, Igor Paixao, with whom Timber played at Feyenoord, had also alerted him to the specific atmosphere surrounding Marseille. "He was always very positive about OM, but from the Netherlands, you can't imagine the importance of a club like Marseille. You have to come and experience it. The city, the stadium, the passion. Everything is surprising," explained the twin brother of Arsenal's full-back, Jürrien Timber.

For the past few weeks, Quinten Timber, who participated in the 2026 World Cup with the Netherlands (eliminated by Morocco in the Round of 16), has been getting to know Bruno Génésio, who took the reins of OM during the off-season. "He is very clear about what he wants. About how to play, how to manage the locker room," testified the Marseille number 27. "He has experience, and the feedback from players who have worked with him before is positive. For us in midfield, there are many combinations and possibilities; he gives us freedom within a defined structure."