Marseille’s shrewd recruitment raises French title hopes under new coach Roberto De Zerbi

PARIS (AP) — Marseille's promising start to the French league season has given its demanding fans hope of a sustained title challenge.

Under new coach Roberto De Zerbi, Marseille’s revamped squad is in second place behind leader Paris Saint-Germain and scoring freely, with many attributing the impressive early performances to a well-planned recruitment strategy.

The signings have been shrewd, although not to everyone's liking. The most talked-about was Mason Greenwood.

The 22-year-old forward, previously at Manchester United, came to Marseille amid controversy two years after his arrest in 2022 on charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault.

The case was dropped in 2023. During his loan spell at Getafe last season, the Spanish club filed a complaint after Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham allegedly called Greenwood a “rapist” during a game.

Since joining Marseille, Greenwood has made headlines on the field and is the league's top scorer with five goals in four league matches.

Marseille is unbeaten and, with 12 goals, has the second-best tally behind PSG's 16.

Another major coup was the acquisition of Adrien Rabiot from Italian giant Juventus earlier this week.

The dynamic France midfielder, who made his name at PSG, brings big-game experience and versatility. He was a free agent after declining to extend his contract with Juventus.

Aged 29, Rabiot could emerge as the key player if Marseille pushes for the title. He brings invaluable leadership qualities to a young-looking team, having won six French titles with PSG and one Italian Serie A crown with Juventus.

Rabiot made more than 200 appearances for Juve and has 48 caps for France, scoring for Les Bleus at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is a first-team regular under national coach Didier Deschamps.

Rabiot, who grew up in the suburbs of Paris and came through PSG’s youth academy, was once a fan favorite in the French capital. However, his move to Juventus in 2019, after a falling out with the club, left a bitter taste with PSG supporters.

Now that he’s joined their fierce rival, Marseille, it has only added to the animosity.

Marseille also bolstered its squad with several players with English Premier League experience. Forwards Neal Maupay, winger Jonathan Rowe and powerful midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg have all joined, adding depth and energy.

Højbjerg has made an immediate impact, providing stability in midfield, and should form an impressive partnership with Rabiot. The Denmark international's energetic style — honed from more than 250 Premier League games with Southampton and Tottenham — fits seamlessly into De Zerbi’s high-intensity, fast-paced style of play.

Maupay burst onto the scene as a powerful 16-year-old with French side Nice, where he stood out for a remarkable ability to play with his back to goal at such a young age.

The bustling forward then made a name — and sometimes a feisty reputation — with Brighton in the Premier League. At 28, he is entering his prime years. Likewise Højbjerg, who is 29.

De Zerbi brings with him experience of a highly competitive, demanding and scrutinized Premier League, where he impressed with his tactical innovations.

Marseille's ability to sign him should not be understated since big European clubs — including Liverpool when it was seeking a replacement for Jürgen Klopp — were reportedly looking at him.

With no European competition this season, Marseille can fully focus on ending its long French title drought, which stretches back to 2010.

To win a 10th league crown, however, Marseille may have to beat PSG. That could prove realistic this season, since the defending champion lacks its usual firepower following the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid.

Marseille and PSG face off on Oct. 27 at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome.

Before that there's another important game coming up, away to Lyon on Sunday. Marseille's fans are banned from going following clashes between rival fans in recent seasons.

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AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed to this report.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Getafe's Mason Greenwood reacts after coming on late as substitute to make his debut during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Getafe and Osasuna at the Coliseum stadium in Getafe, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Breton, File)

FILE - Brentford's Neal Maupay gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brentford at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)

FILE - Brighton's head coach Roberto De Zerbi shouts to his players from the sideline during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, on March 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

FILE - Juventus' Adrien Rabiot controls the ball during the Serie A soccer match against Inter Milan at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)