Mehdi Benatia Swaps Marseille Office for New Role at Canal+

Casablanca – Former Morocco international Mehdi Benatia has begun a new chapter in football media after officially joining Canal+ as a consultant, according to French outlet L’Équipe.

The 39-year-old will take on a television role for the first time after leaving his position as football director at Olympique de Marseille at the end of June.

Benatia spent a season and a half working within Marseille’s sporting department, primarily alongside club president Pablo Longoria. 

During his time at the club, Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 in the 2024-25 season before ending the following campaign in fifth.

His responsibilities increased after Longoria was removed from his sporting role in February, but Benatia ultimately left the club several months later. Grégory Lorenzi subsequently took over as Marseille’s football director.

At Canal+, Benatia will bring his experience from a playing career that included spells at clubs such as Udinese, Roma, Bayern Munich and Juventus, as well as 66 appearances for Morocco.

The former defender joins an expanding group of football consultants at the French broadcaster.

According to L’Équipe, former Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has also joined Canal+’s consulting team. 

The 50-year-old, who led Morocco from 2022 to 2026, will appear on the channel during European competition nights and Premier League matchdays.

Former France international Inès Jaurena has also joined the broadcaster’s pool of consultants, while established names including Laure Boulleau, Samir Nasri, Olivier Dacourt, David Ginola, Aline Riera, Sidney Govou, Christophe Jallet and Jessica Houara remain part of the team.