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Inter-owned Pavard confirms Marseille exit after loan option goes unexercised

·By Paul Lindisfarne
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Benjamin Pavard has confirmed his departure from Olympique de Marseille after the French club chose not to exercise their €15m purchase option, ending a one-season loan spell.

Pavard, the 2018 World Cup winner with France, joined Marseille on loan from Inter Milan in September after Inter sanctioned his departure for the remainder of the season.

He was a regular in the Marseille defence across the campaign, making 37 appearances, but drew consistent criticism for errors at key moments and his performances visibly declined in the second half of the season.

He confirmed his exit with a post on Instagram.

"Today a chapter closes with Olympique de Marseille. Wearing this shirt will remain a defining experience in my career and in my life.

"I have always tried to give my all on the pitch and to represent this club with respect and commitment. I leave with a mix of emotions, lessons learnt and the memory of a dressing room that remained united right to the end. Thank you to the club, the staff, my teammates and everyone who has supported us this season. I wish Marseille all the best for the future."

Pavard will return to Inter in the summer when his loan expires. According to Fabrizio Romano, Inter are prepared to sell him rather than reintegrate him into their squad, with the club having secured the scudetto and Coppa Italia double this season under head coach Cristian Chivu and needing to manage their wage structure. He is under contract in Milan until 2028.

Pavard joined Inter from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 and won two Serie A titles before the loan move to France. He has earned 55 caps for the French national team, scoring five goals, but has not been selected for the national team since December 2024 and is not part of Didier Deschamps' World Cup squad.