Jorge Sampaoli occupies the first place of the list of candidates that Marseille is considering to take over the bench after the resignation of Villas Boas. However, the French club cannot sign any coach at the moment, since it has not yet closed the settlement with Villas Boas. At this time, both afternoons do not finish agreeing. The French club suspects that the Portuguese's resignation had a hidden reason: his signing for Sao Paulo. So the possible arrival of Sampaoli remains on hold.
On February 2, André Villas-Boas presented his resignation as Olympique de Marseille coach. The Portuguese coach said that the main reason for his decision was the hiring in the winter market of Olivier Ntcham, a player he had not requested. The apology alleged by the Portuguese greatly surprised the Marseille dome, who, nevertheless, accepted his resignation. However, as the days go by, the position of the French club has changed and suspects that the real reason was another, in view of the events.
Sao Paulo dismissed Fernando Diniz on February 1, curiously, a day before the resignation of Villas Boas. This coincidence and the subsequent leakage of the Brazilian club's interest in Portuguese are the reasons that They lead Marseille to suspect the previous agreement between the São Paulo team and the coach. Hence now both parties are facing each other.
Sampaoli, meanwhile, remains as Atlético Mineiro coach and waiting for what happens in Marseille. In this sense, time plays in his favor, since he will not leave the bench of the Rio de Janeiro club until the end of the Brazilian Championship on February 25.