Serge Aurier, 32, a former Paris Saint-Germain defender, spoke to the Kampo podcast about an offer he received from Olympique de Marseille. The former PSG full-back explained why he categorically refused to join the historic rival, despite a period without a club.
Aurier “ I’d rather not even eat than sign for Marseille ”
“I’ve already been offered. Benatia spoke to me about it, but I made it clear that I wasn’t interested when I was without a club. I’m very loyal. I’d rather not even eat than sign for Marseille. It’s in the back of my mind. I’m a Parisian, I did all my schooling in the Paris region, I couldn’t afford to sign for Marseille. It’s a strange thing. In the Classicos, you say ‘Allez Paris, Allez Paris’ and all of a sudden you change. What’s the feeling you get on the other side?”
The opposition between Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain goes far beyond the realm of sport: it crystallizes a cultural, social and identity-based rivalry that has been rooted in the history of French soccer since the 1980s. This “Classico” has become the most eagerly awaited match in Ligue 1, pitting the capital, a symbol of centralization and prestige, against Marseille, a rebellious city proud of its grassroots identity.
For a player from one of these two cities, crossing the border to sign for a rival club is a taboo. Attachment to the region, the club’s culture and the fervour of its supporters make such a move almost unthinkable. The history of the Classico has been shaped by visionary managers, but the passion and hostility between the two sides has become very real, fuelled by decades of tense confrontations, landmark victories and sometimes violent incidents.
For a “true” Parisian or Marseillais, wearing the opposing team’s jersey means risking a break with one’s roots and the misunderstanding of an entire community. The difficulty of crossing this line is explained by the identity-based dimension of the duel: each Classico reminds us that we don’t change sides without consequences, as rivalry has become a question of honor and loyalty.
