Olympique de Marseille’s elimination from the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Atalanta did more than end OM’s hopes of securing UEFA Champions League qualification next season, it also put pay to the chances of Joaquín Correa (29) remaining at the Vélodrome beyond the end of the season.

Correa has been a bystander in a tumultuous season at Marseille. The Argentine arrived on a season-long loan in a deal that included the option to make the loan permanent for a €10m fee. This option would become permanent in the event that OM qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Currently ninth in Ligue 1, it is a mathematical impossibility that Les Phocéens finish in the top four and therefore qualify for next season’s edition of the Champions League through their Ligue 1 standing. The club’s last hope was securing qualification via the Europa League but they were dumped out of the competition by Atalanta on Thursday (3-0, 4-1, agg.).

Across the season, Correa has played just 19 games and accrued a mere 682 minutes of football. Having started just nine times for Les Phocéens, he will now return to parent club Inter Milan as Marseille will not trigger the €10m buy option in the winger’s deal.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle