Yahoo Sports Roberto De Zerbi: ‘Mason Greenwood was the first player I called’
In a wide-ranging interview with L’Équipe, the new Olympique de Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi addressed the controversial signing of Mason Greenwood (22) from Manchester United.
It was a signing that was met with intense criticism from some quarters of the French city. The mayor and sexual and domestic violence support groups applied pressure on the club to try and convince them against the transfer, while fans also created a social media campaign to try and ward the forward away from the club.
The forward had not played for United since he was charged in 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Last year, Greenwood spent the season on loan at Getafe after the Crown Prosecution Service revealed that they had discontinued the charges. Greenwood has denied all allegations.
L’Équipe were keen to discuss previous comments that De Zerbi had made about the forward in his first press conference as manager of Marseille where he had declared, “I don’t know [Greenwood’s] background. No matter the player, once they sign here, they become like my children. I protect them through thick and thin. Maybe, in private I’ll pull their ears, but in public, I’ll defend them like my sons.”
De Zerbi was quick to deny to the French outlet that he had defended Greenwood personally. “I didn’t defend him. I said that when a player becomes my player, I’m the first to pin him to the wall if he makes a mistake. But with regard to the outside world, I’ll always defend him as I would defend my son.”
“The personal question does not enter into my reasoning, I know what Pablo Longoria [club president] did beforehand, all the information he collected on Greenwood. The club took every precaution before making the decision,” he further stated.
De Zerbi: ‘I warned Greenwood about the demands of the club’
De Zerbi was also asked by L’Équipe about what he and the club have been looking for when targeting new arrivals, “What’s in his blood: Character, willpower. Elye Wahi, for example, wanted to come at all costs and that’s what he told me straight away on the phone. Mason Greenwood was the first player I called.”
De Zerbi continued, “I spoke with his father, who must be the same age as me. I warned him about the demands of the club, telling him: “OM is OM.” He replied: “I remember the historic Marseille, which played in the European Cup finals.” On the other hand, when we saw a player was uncertain, not totally won over by the idea of joining us, we immediately went down another path.”
