Hojbjerg Stripped of Marseille Captaincy After Newcastle Refusal

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been stripped of the Marseille captaincy after refusing a move to Newcastle United, igniting a power struggle behind the scenes at the Ligue 1 club.

Captaincy torn away after Newcastle snub

Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle had identified the Danish midfielder as his preferred replacement for Bruno Guimaraes and pushed to bring him to St James’ Park. Magpies sporting director Ross Wilson has been driving the deal, with Marseille prepared to accept an offer in the region of £15 million.

Hojbjerg, though, does not want the move. That stance has infuriated Marseille owner Frank McCourt, who has responded by removing the armband from one of his key players.

The decision played out in full view on Friday. Hojbjerg started and completed Marseille’s game against Atletico Madrid, but when the players walked out, it was Timothy Weah who wore the captain’s armband.

Genesio overruled by the hierarchy

Marseille head coach Bruno Genesio made no attempt to hide his frustration at the post-match press conference.

"It is a decision that was dictated to me by the club's management," he said after the game. "If I want to be completely frank, and I will be, it is not a decision that I agree with.

"But I am an employee, I have to comply with certain obligations. We did it."

The split is clear: the board has moved to punish a player unwilling to follow their transfer plan, while the coach is left managing the fallout inside the dressing room.

For now, Hojbjerg remains in the XI but no longer leads it.

Newcastle forced to look elsewhere

With Hojbjerg standing firm and the relationship with Marseille’s hierarchy strained, the £15m switch that once looked straightforward now appears dead. Newcastle, already needing to replace a player of Guimaraes’ influence, must pivot quickly.

They have already put a three-year contract on the table for Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha. Yet the Portuguese international has his own preference: he wants Aston Villa.

So Newcastle find themselves in a familiar transfer-window dilemma. Their first-choice target will not come. Their alternative has his heart set on another club. And somewhere in Marseille, a stripped captain plays on under a manager who never wanted to lose his armband in the first place.