---
title: "Celtic: Kieran Devlin offers sympathy towards Olivier Ntcham over Marseille controversy"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-kieran-devlin-offers-sympathy-towards-olivier-ntcham-over-marseille-controversy/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Nathan Linley"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-02-05T19:10:11Z"
modified: "2021-02-05T19:10:11Z"
---

# Celtic: Kieran Devlin offers sympathy towards Olivier Ntcham over Marseille controversy

**It is been a difficult week for Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham following his loan move to Marseille.**

On the back of his arrival in his homeland, manager Andre Villas-Boas offered his resignation after highlighting that the 24-year-old was “never on his list” (cited by [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55905232)).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”338175″\]

Ntcham made his feelings clear last October that he wanted to leave Celtic – and was [denied](https://www.skysports.com/app/transfer/news/12691/12206068/celtic-transfer-news-olivier-ntcham-joins-marseille-on-loan) a summer deadline day move to Ligue 1 side Brest.

During the current campaign, Ntcham has started just seven Scottish Premiership games and averaged a match rating of just 6.46 ([Whoscored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/294149/Show/Olivier-Ntcham)).

### Devlin feels sorry for Ntcham

[The Athletic journalist Kieran Devlin](https://twitter.com/NoNotThatDevlin/status/1357611125261615105) was sympathetic towards the Frenchman after what has been a difficult start for him in the South of France.

“I understand why some fans might not be sympathetic with Ntcham,” he said on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/NoNotThatDevlin/status/1357611125261615105). “But I do feel sorry for him. The Marseille debacle this week seems to reinforce the idea of a career in limbo.”

### Transfer Tavern Verdict

It is difficult to disagree with what Devlin said. While Ntcham did get his wish of a departure from Glasgow, no-one would have expected the events that followed shortly after.

Supporters will have been glad to see the Frenchman leave the club given how he has been angling for a move, but Ntcham may find his playing time rather limited under the new management, and is now left in a sorry situation.

Time will tell whether he turns things around in Ligue 1 – or even if he can play his way back into Neil Lennon’s good books.

*In other news, **[Mark Halsey slams key Celtic asset after Killie victory – EXCLUSIVE.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-exclusive-mark-halsey-slams-albian-ajeti-dive-e33/)***