Football: Milik joins Marseille on loan from Napoli

Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik left Italian Napoli SSC to become a new player for French Olympique de Marseille.

I am happy and proud to announce that I am officially a player of Olympique de Marseille, one of the most prestigious clubs in Europe. I'm ready for this new adventure. Allez OM 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Dw5MxrhInm

— Arkadiusz Milik (@arekmilik9) January 21, 2021

The saga with the transfer of Milik began in the summer, when the player wanted to leave Napoli, but transfers to Juventus FC, AS Roma, Atlético de Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur did not work out or were just rumours.

In the autumn, Aurelio de Laurentiis, the charismatic chairman of the Italian club, decided that Milik would not be in the squad of the first team of Napoli. The striker of the Polish national team could not participate in matches. It was apparent that if he wanted to play during the postponed UEFA Euro 2020, he had to find a new club in winter.

Milik was again linked with Roma, Atlético and Juventus. At the beginning of the year, the media reported his possible move to Olympique de Marseille, the runner-up of the previous season of French Ligue 1.

According to reports, the French club will pay Napoli SSC EUR 8 mln now, plus four more in other bonuses. Moreover, Milik is loaned from Napoli, but Marseille will have to purchase him after the 2021/2022 season. The Italian club will also receive 20 percent of Milik’s next transfer.

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⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/thiyWGsS6i

— Olympique de Marseille 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 (@OM_English) January 22, 2021

Experts suggest that there is a chance that the striker will soon be a member of Marseille’s first team. This would be good news for the new coach of the Polish national team, Portuguese Paulo Sousa. The French club is currently sixth in the French league, with 10 points less than the leader, Paris Saint-Germain, but has played two matches fewer.

Arkadiusz Milik played 122 times for Napoli, scored 48 goals and recorded five assists. Milik joined Napoli in 2016 from AFC Ajax for around EUR 32 mln. In June he helped his side win the Italian Cup, the club’s first trophy in six years.