Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's rejection of Newcastle has quickly become more than a transfer story. Marseille stripped him of the captaincy after the U-turn, and Bruno Genesio has openly said he does not agree with the club's decision.
Marseille and Newcastle had reached a total agreement for a £15 million transfer before Højbjerg pulled out. Marseille then handed the armband to Timothy Weah in a Friday friendly against Atlético Madrid, while Goal also reported that Højbjerg was in the starting line-up but not captain.
Genesio's disagreement
"I'll be completely frank, it's a decision by the management that I do not share," Bruno Genesio said to Goal. That is a public break with the club's response, and it leaves Marseille showing their hand on discipline as much as on football.
The move to strip him came after Højbjerg's spell with the club, which started with a loan from Tottenham in July 2024 before a permanent move was triggered 12 months later. His recent level has not been the issue. Højbjerg has averaged 7.48 across his last five Marseille appearances.
Newcastle's failed move
The Newcastle end of this is messy too. A £15 million deal was reportedly there to be done, but Højbjerg walked away before it could go through. Craig Hope has also reported on the wider Newcastle rebuilding effort, with Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon mentioned in source reports as part of the club's recent departures.
Marseille finished fifth in Ligue 1 in 2025, and Newcastle ended 12th in the Premier League in 2025. Those are not clubs in the same place, but both are dealing with pressure in different ways. Marseille's mixed run of WWLDL only adds to the sense that this is a club prone to internal noise.
The immediate issue is clear enough. Højbjerg is still at Marseille, the captaincy has gone to Timothy Weah, and the row now sits in the open ahead of whatever comes next for the midfielder and the club.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
