Marseille coach explains Akrd's new injury

Habib Bey, coach of Olympique Marseille, said that Moroccan international Naif Akrad is still recovering from the injury that kept him out of the field, during the press conference preceding the team’s confrontation with Lorient in the 30th round of the French League.

The captain of the French team added that the surgery that Akrad underwent went under good conditions, but the player suffers from a slight bone infection that delayed his return to the field, stressing that the club is working in direct coordination with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to follow up on the development of his health condition.

The Marseille coach indicated that there is currently no specific date for the Moroccan defender’s return, explaining that these minor complications are not related to the surgical operation, which he described as successful.

Media reports reported that Akrad would not be able to return to the stadiums before the end of the 2025-2026 season, after his absence from the remainder of the current season’s competitions was confirmed, despite the hopes that existed during recent weeks.

The reason for this long absence is that the player suffered from a pubic injury, which is one of the complex injuries for professional players, which required him to undergo surgical intervention on March 12, in order to completely get rid of this problem.

The same sources also explained that the French club's medical staff was betting on his return during the month of May, but the development of his condition revealed that he had suffered a fracture in the pubic bone, which imposed a longer rehabilitation period and officially ruled out his return this season.

Akrad's absence represents a painful blow for Olympique Marseille, especially since the player is considered one of the main pillars of the defensive line. This new development also puts the technical staff in a difficult position, as the team seeks to finish the season in the qualifying positions for the Champions League.

It is worth noting that this situation also raises doubts about Akrad's readiness to participate with the Moroccan national team in the upcoming matches, if he does not regain his full fitness in time.