OGC Nice has decided to bring the matter of Grégory Lorenzi before the labor court. The new sporting director of Olympique de Marseille had signed a commitment with the Azur club before ultimately choosing the Marseille project. A dispute that could now be settled before the courts.
OGC Nice and Grégory Lorenzi: a dispute taking a judicial turn
Grégory Lorenzi’s arrival as sporting director of Olympique de Marseille continues to cause upheaval. Before joining the Marseille club, the former Stade Brestois executive had concluded an agreement with OGC Nice, subject to the Azur club’s retention in Ligue 1.
The retention achieved at the end of the playoff against Saint-Étienne activated the conditions provided for in this contract. A few days later, Grégory Lorenzi ultimately chose to join OM. A decision that the Nice leadership contests.
Jean-Pierre Rivère had publicly discussed this matter after the Gym’s retention. “We signed a contract with a clause that if we went down to Ligue 2, he had the option to withdraw. The contract was signed. 15 days later, he calls me and asks to see me. I was reading the press and I understood that OM had come back to the matter”, declared the Nice president.
OGC Nice refuses the proposed solutions
According to information surrounding the matter, Grégory Lorenzi reportedly attempted to find an amicable solution. Several options were reportedly discussed to avoid legal proceedings.
OGC Nice’s leaders, however, did not follow up on these proposals. The club believes it has contractual rights and now wishes to have the dispute settled before the labor court.
Jean-Pierre Rivère also reported the exchanges that took place with the Breton executive: “he comes to see me in the office and tells me ‘President, I’m sorry, this is the first time this has happened to me but I’m going to take back my word and I choose Marseille’. (…) As I said to Greg, I can understand the pressure from Marseille coming back to the matter. But Marseille knows very well that we have a contract with him.”
After several weeks of tension, OGC Nice therefore decided to take proceedings against Grégory Lorenzi a few days after Florian Maurice’s departure. A matter that could now continue on the legal front, despite the officialization of OM’s new sporting director.
