Nayef Aguerd absent from Marseille friendly against Athletic Bilbao Nayef Aguerd was left out of Olympique de Marseille’s squad for Sunday’s friendly against Athletic Bilbao, with the Morocco international reportedly close to returning to Real Sociedad. Marseille manager Bruno Genesio excluded him from the match, which Marseille were leading 2-1 at the time of the report. ## What happened with Aguerd? Reports suggest Aguerd is on the verge of joining Real Sociedad on a season-long loan with an option to buy. According to AS, the deal includes a €4m loan fee and an €11m buyout clause. The 30-year-old previously played for Real Sociedad before moving to West Ham and Marseille. ## Why it matters for Athletic Bilbao Although the match was a friendly, Aguerd’s absence highlights the transfer market activity. Athletic Bilbao, currently sidelined with injuries to Andoni Gorosabel and Dani Vivian, remains watchful for defensive reinforcements. ## What’s next for Aguerd? Aguerd is expected to travel to San Sebastián this week to finalize his transfer. After recovering from a groin injury that ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup, the defender aims to resume his career in Spain.