Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood reportedly favours a summer move to Marseille over Italian giants such as Lazio, Juventus and Napoli.
Manchester United outcast Mason Greenwood has reportedly decided which club he would like to join this summer as an intense scramble for his services continues.
The one-cap England international is not believed to be in the Red Devils’ plans moving forward, despite the club initially preparing to welcome him back to the Theatre of Dreams last year.
Greenwood’s last game for the club came back in January 2022, shortly before his first arrest on suspicion of rape and assault before being further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill.
The forward was subsequently charged with attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, but the Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges in February 2023 due to key witnesses withdrawing and new material coming to light.
Greenwood was therefore free to resume his footballing career, but once Man United’s plans to re-integrate him became public and led to enormous backlash, the club U-turned on their decision.
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Greenwood ‘eyeing’ Marseille transfer
Rather than terminating his contract, the Red Devils sent the 22-year-old on loan to Spanish side Getafe, where he contributed 10 goals and six assists in 36 games and put himself in the shop window in the process.
New Man United stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe refused to close the door on Greenwood’s time at Man United earlier this year, but as his deal expires in 2025, a summer transfer is seen as inevitable, assuming the Red Devils’ £40m demands are met.
While a move to Serie A with either Lazio, Juventus or Napoli has been strongly mooted, The Athletic claims that Ligue 1 giants Marseille are now in the running and have held ‘positive’ talks with Greenwood’s camp.
The report claims that the Englishman is currently favouring a switch to the French side over his other options at this juncture, although negotiations between the two clubs are still at an embryonic stage, and they are yet to thrash out the financial terms of any deal.
Moving to Marseille would see Greenwood link up with former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi, who was recently confirmed as the new head coach of Les Olympiens.
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Greenwood ‘could return to Man Utd training’
As well as the Italian trio, teams in Germany, Spain and Portugal are also understood to be attentive to the situation, while Getafe are not giving up hope of a second stint together either.
The La Liga outfit would not be able to afford a permanent deal for Greenwood, but the report adds that the Red Devils have not fully ruled out the idea of letting him leave on loan again.
Furthermore, if Man United cannot find a suitor within a couple of weeks, the 22-year-old could return to Carrington for pre-season training, but that would not be expected to precede a playing comeback.
Greenwood struck 35 goals and set up 12 more in 129 appearances for Man United before his arrest, while also earning his England debut in a Nations League clash with Iceland in September 2020.