Højbjerg Loses Marseille Captaincy After Rejecting Newcastle Move

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has lost the Marseille captaincy after refusing a move to Newcastle United, triggering a power struggle behind the scenes at the Ligue 1 club.

Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle had identified the Denmark international as his preferred replacement for Bruno Guimarães at St James’ Park. Sporting director Ross Wilson pushed hard to get a deal over the line, with Marseille prepared to accept an offer in the region of £15 million.

Højbjerg, though, does not want the move. That stance has infuriated Marseille owner Frank McCourt and prompted a swift response from the hierarchy.

Armband taken away – and handed to Weah

Højbjerg started for Marseille against Atletico Madrid on Friday and completed the match, but he did so without the armband. Instead, it went to Timothy Weah, a clear public signal of the club’s changing internal order.

The decision did not come from the dugout.

“It is a decision that was dictated to me by the club's management,” head coach Bruno Genesio admitted after the game. “If I want to be completely frank, and I will be, it is not a decision that I agree with.

“But I am an employee, I have to comply with certain obligations. We did it.”

Genesio’s words underline the tension: a coach who still trusts his midfielder enough to start him in a high-profile game, and a board intent on punishing a player unwilling to follow their transfer plan.

Newcastle forced to look elsewhere

With Højbjerg standing firm, the proposed move is effectively dead. Newcastle will now turn their attention to alternative options rather than chase a player who has made it clear he does not want to join.

The Premier League club have already moved on one front, tabling a three-year contract for Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha. That pursuit has its own complication: the Portugal international’s preference is to sign for Aston Villa.

Newcastle, Marseille, Højbjerg, Palhinha – four parties, clashing agendas. The window still has time to run, but for now, a captaincy has changed hands and a transfer that suited two clubs has been derailed by the only opinion that truly counts: the player’s.