July 9th 2024.
Marseille and Manchester United have come to an agreement regarding the transfer of talented player Mason Greenwood. However, the deal is still subject to Greenwood's approval. The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Getafe where he made quite an impression, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in La Liga. His stellar performance earned him the club's player-of-the-year award.
Unfortunately, Greenwood has not been able to play for United since his arrest in January 2022 on charges of attempted rape, controlling behavior, and assault. However, these charges were later dropped. Despite this setback, many top clubs from around Europe, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, and Napoli, have been keeping an eye on his situation this summer.
Among these clubs, Marseille has been showing a strong interest in signing Greenwood. According to sources, the French club has agreed to pay United a fee of €31.6million, with €27.6m fixed and €4m in add-ons. Additionally, United will also receive a share of any future sale of the player.
However, Greenwood has yet to agree to personal terms with Marseille. The Ligue 1 outfit will now focus on finalizing the deal with the player and his representatives. It is worth noting that Greenwood has not played for United since January 2022, and his current contract with the club runs until 2025.
Greenwood would be joining forces with Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille, who recently took over as the club's new head coach. De Zerbi, who previously managed Brighton, left the English club at the end of last season.
When asked about Greenwood's potential move during his first press conference as Marseille's manager, De Zerbi had this to say: "He has not been recruited so there is not much to say. He is a champion, an international-level player. I don't know his past, I don't know exactly what happened. I don't like to interfere in the private lives of players."
He added, "The only thing I can say is that when a player signs for the club where I work, I consider him as my child. I protect him through thick and thin, even if I can pull his ear in private, I will defend him publicly. My players are like my sons."
Meanwhile, Marseille's president, Pablo Longoria, emphasized the club's values and the importance of players sharing these values when asked about potential concerns regarding Greenwood's arrival. He stated, "For a year and a half, we have implemented a social program that is among the strongest in Europe. It was my personal idea that Marseille would be invested in all areas where football has a place - in education, women's football, and the work of the foundation."
He continued, "What is certain is that no matter which player comes to Marseille, they must share our values and the ones we want to have in common with society. At Marseille, there is no religion, no social class. We want Marseille to be a symbol of social unity, and we want all players to share this vision. We want people with values and good people."
In the end, it seems that Marseille's pursuit of Greenwood is nearing its conclusion. Once the personal terms are agreed upon, the talented player will join the club and continue his journey in the world of football. As for United, their co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, had previously suggested that Greenwood could still have a future at the club. Only time will tell what the future holds for this young and promising player.
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