Igor Paixão's Marseille Struggle: Did He Make a Mistake Snubbing Leeds?

Igor Paixão, the Brazilian winger who was heavily linked with a move to Leeds United this past summer, is reportedly struggling to find his feet at Olympique de Marseille. After a £30 million move from Feyenoord, where he was a prolific goal scorer and creator, Paixão hasn't been able to replicate that form in France.

De Zerbi Defends Paixão, Cites Injury

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has defended Paixão, attributing his slow start to a recent injury. "I really don’t like this question, because he’s been injured for two months and is not yet in optimal condition," De Zerbi stated, adding that Paixão has shown his quality in the Champions League.

Former Marseille Star Weighs In

However, Bruno Cheyrou, a former Marseille player, believes that De Zerbi's tactical approach might be hindering Paixão. Cheyrou suggests that Paixão had more freedom at Feyenoord and that De Zerbi's "very fixed ideas" could be limiting him. He also feels Paixão is better suited to playing on the left wing, where his shooting ability could be more effective against teams that defend deep.

• Paixão rejected a move to Leeds United for Marseille.
• He's struggling to replicate his Feyenoord form.
• Roberto De Zerbi cites injury as a factor.
• Bruno Cheyrou believes De Zerbi's tactics are a problem.

Paixão's struggles raise questions about whether he made the right decision in choosing Marseille over Leeds. While it's still early days, the pressure is on for him to rediscover his form and justify his hefty price tag. Leeds United, meanwhile, seem to have made shrewd acquisitions, making Paixão's situation even more scrutinised.