Marseille boss Sampaoli quits amid friction over Saliba transfer decision

Marseille boss Jorge Sampaoli has sensationally quit the club amid frustrations with the club's transfer policy and inability to land Arsenal defender William Saliba.

Saliba starred on loan at Marseille last campaign and has been sent out on temporary exits in successive seasons by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. The central defender has been called up to the France international squad for the first time this season and has now earned five caps for the senior squad of Les Bleus.

Just over two months ago, the player's agent Djibril Niang admitted there was a large degree of uncertainty surrounding his client's future - comments that came after Saliba admitted that he was dealt a harsh reality check after arriving at the Emirates, having believed he was ready for first-team action. The Frenchman is tipped for a bright future at the top level but has been loaned out for three successive seasons by Arsenal.

However, Saliba is now expected to return to north London this summer - a decision that added to Sampaoli's frustrations with Marseille's transfer activity. The Argentine has walked out on the French giants despite guiding them to an impressive second-place finish in Ligue 1 last campaign, his first season in France.

Sampaoli is believed to have been aware of the club's transfer targets since the middle of June and has taken his time to make a decision on his future. Despite guiding the club back into the Champions League, he has been left underwhelmed by their stance and is now set to exit.

Saliba was signed by Unai Emery in the summer of 2019 for £27million but allowed to remain at Saint-Etienne for a further season. He spent the entirety of last season at Marseille having previously had loan stints at his former club and Nice in Ligue 1, after joining the Gunners permanently.

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In April, Marseille president Pablo Longoria explained his ambitions for keeping Saliba at the club: "It's a three-way question. For the club that owns the player, Arsenal, the player and Marseille. We have to see our possibilities. He is very happy here, we are very satisfied with his performance. William is one of the best young defenders I have seen in my career.

"After all, everything depends on the three parties. It's a matter of market value. But we have extraordinary relations with Arsenal."

Saliba's future at Arsenal has constantly remained uncertain as he was not signed by current boss Arteta, who overlooked him for first-team selection and allowed him to leave on loan deals on three occasions. The club's central defensive partnership of Gabriel and Ben White impressed last season but the latest indication is that the Frenchman will be involved in the first-team squad.