Lucas Da Cunha was pursued by Marseille in January

Marseille’s current financial restrictions have added weight to its failed pursuit of Lucas Da Cunha, now one of the leading revelations of the start of the Zidane era. The French midfielder has since become an international and captain of Como, making the missed opportunity more significant for the Ligue 1 club.

The approach came in January 2026, after Marseille had followed Da Cunha for around 18 months. The club held discussions and attempted to bring him away from Como during the winter transfer window, but the cost of the deal proved beyond its reach. Marseille instead turned to Quinten Timber.

The decision now stands out against a much tighter financial situation. Marseille missed out on Champions League qualification the previous season and entered an austerity period that prevented the club from signing any player during the latest summer window. The club could also lose established players in the next winter market.

That uncertainty has frustrated Bruno Genesio, who has had to rely on contract extensions for young players including Yanis Sellami and Alexi Koum. The Da Cunha pursuit belongs to an earlier, more aggressive transfer strategy, when Marseille had also secured high-profile moves for Adrien Rabiot and Mason Greenwood.