Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is STRIPPED of Marseille’s captaincy for TURNING DOWN £15m Newcastle transfer and ‘irritating’ club’s owner by refusing to leave

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has been stripped of the Marseille captaincy after sparking fury at the club for rejecting a £15million move to Newcastle. 

The former Tottenham midfielder appeared as though he was closing in on a switch to the Magpies before an abrupt U-turn. 

Despite Marseille and Newcastle reaching an agreement for the transfer, Hojbjerg wanted to remain in the south of France. 

He’s now been stripped of the captaincy, as evidenced by the team sheet for Friday’s game against Atletico Madrid. 

Hojbjerg was included in the starting line-up but the armband was given to Timothy Weah. 

As Daily Mail Sport previously reported, Marseille owner Frank McCourt is furious with Hojbjerg and the Dane is unlikely to be reinstated as skipper, with reports in France indicating he is still ‘irritated’. 

Marseille have been under pressure to reduce their wage bill and given their financial difficulties would have welcomed Newcastle’s move for the 31-year-old. 

But they’ve been denied that windfall by Hojbjerg changing his mind, putting him in the awkward position of being lambasted despite showing loyalty to the Ligue 1 side. 

The Denmark international had been identified as the experienced organiser that suited the plans of new boss Matthias Jaissle and talks had initially gone well but he changed his mind over the deal. 

Hojbjerg is considering his options with AC Milan also understood to be interested if he decides against staying with Marseille.

Marseille finished fifth after a tumultuous season last term, which included the sacking of Roberto de Zerbi. 

Habib Beye replaced him only to leave at the end of the season and Bruno Genesio is now in charge, already having to deal with dressing room unrest.  

Meanwhile, it is proving to be a summer of unrest for Newcastle, who have sold club captain Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal, star forward Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and midfielder Sandro Tonali to Tottenham.

Eddie Howe, the manager who saved them from relegation before transforming them into a Champions League club and ending their 56-year major trophy drought, then stepped down on July 31.

They have also missed out on top targets such as Spain winger Victor Munoz and Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi, who opted to join Liverpool and Aston Villa respectively.