Yahoo Sports ‘I don’t wish to enter into any controversy’ – Mason Greenwood addresses divided Marseille and mayor’s criticism
Yesterday evening it was announced that Mason Greenwood (22) had officially joined Olympique de Marseille. However, the former Manchester United striker has arrived in La Provence on the back of a serious debate.
In 2022, Greenwood was arrested and later charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In 2023, these charges were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service after they revealed that they no longer had a “realistic prospect of conviction” due to the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that had come to light. Greenwood has denied the allegations.
Manchester United had attempted to reintegrate their academy product back into the squad after the charges were dropped. However, after a public backlash and consultation with the women’s team, the club eventually decided against allowing Greenwood to continue his career in Manchester.
The forward spent last season on loan in Spain playing for Getafe, before Marseille decided to pursue his signature as part of their search for a winger capable of playing as a number nine. This pursuit came under intense criticism from the Marseille mayor who referencing the images that were widely shared on social media ahead of Greenwood’s 2022 arrest, called on the club to stop the transfer: “Beating his wife is unbecoming of a man and he cannot have a place on this team.”
While the director for Solidarité Femmes 13 (an organisation that supports women and children who are victims of domestic or sexual violence and who have a partnership with Marseille) has strongly criticised the club for their actions in an interview with Le Parisien, stating “Marseille’s image is tarnished, it would be a shame for the city and the club to have this player on the team.”
A position that was reflected by a section of the supporters who attempted to apply pressure on Marseille with the social media campaign #GreenwoodNotWelcome. However, there was also a counter-campaign welcoming Greenwood, which was seen in the warm reception the Englishman received from the 200 fans waiting as he landed in Marseille.
In a joint interview with La Provence and L’Équipe, Greenwood was asked about the divide his signing has caused and the criticism he’s received from the mayor. “Obviously, I am aware of this debate and I understand the question. I don’t wish to enter into any controversy. I already had the opportunity to express myself on this subject last year, it is now behind us.”
The player continued, “With my partner, we rebuilt ourselves together, as a couple, we have just spent a year in Madrid. We have been together since we were 15 or 16 years old. Today, we have a beautiful little girl who just celebrated her first birthday. I’m now looking towards the future and I’m only focused on Marseille and on our new life together in Marseille.”
