'No regrets' – Adrien Rabiot affair not causing any sleepless nights for Marseille president as he breaks silence on Jonathan Rowe dressing room fight

Marseille president Pablo Longoria has opened up about the departure of key midfielder Adrien Rabiot after his dressing room bust-up with England international Jonathan Rowe. Longoria says Rabiot's exit was not pre-determined and the club have been left with a void after his transfer to AC Milan. However, the Marseille president claims the club needed to act to maintain the spirit of discipline.

'No regrets' - Adrien Rabiot affair not causing any sleepless nights for Marseille president as he breaks silence on Jonathan Rowe dressing room fight'No regrets' - Adrien Rabiot affair not causing any sleepless nights for Marseille president as he breaks silence on Jonathan Rowe dressing room fight'No regrets' - Adrien Rabiot affair not causing any sleepless nights for Marseille president as he breaks silence on Jonathan Rowe dressing room fight

After a 1-0 defeat against 10-man in the first game of the season, tensions escalated in the dressing room, ending in a physical altercation between Rabiot and Rowe, which saw a young player knocked unconscious. The pair were subsequently banished from the squad and put up for sale, with Rowe joining before Rabiot headed to – the pair came up against each other on Sunday in .

The incident rocked the club’s start to the season and saw Rabiot, a crucial midfielder last season, exit Roberto De Zerbi’s team. While the president admitted they have lost a quality asset, he feels it was the correct decision.

“It’s good to close this matter and look forward. I have no regrets because we were very clear,” he told La Provence. “We have to say things about Adrien. The first is that it doesn’t change the consideration I have for him. I believe the player has brought us a lot. But when you have the strong conviction that the club must be structured in such a way that decisions are respected, there are no regrets. When you are loyal to your princes, you can sleep peacefully.”

Longoria further added: “The situation as such is regrettable because no one wants to reach this point of no return, especially when we are talking about a player who is important in sporting terms and for the team. But regarding the follow-up and the decisions taken, when you do things according to your convictions, there are no regrets.”

Rabiot was asked about the events that transpired between him and Rowe last week when he attended a press conference. The player insisted that there is no bad blood between them and that it will be to see him. He also shared that the two texted each other after departing from Marseille. Milan won 1-0 against Bologna with Luka Modric sealing the win for the Rossoneri with his first goal.

Marseille have signed ‘s Matt O’Riley on loan as a replacement for Rabiot. The French club will be travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu to face Madrid in their opening fixture of the on September 17.