Mason Greenwood ‘focuses on club football’ after moving from Manchester United to Marseille

Mason Greenwood said he will “focus on club football this season” after signing for Marseille – while the club president claimed he was aware of the complexities of his transfer from Manchester United.

Speaking at a press conference today (Friday 19 July), Greenwood said he already feels “at home” at the French club and is looking forward to the chance to play at the Stade Vélodrome.

However, he said he did not want to get involved in discussions about the allegations outside the field. Marseille then stopped journalists, including from The athleteand ask any questions about the topic.

United abandoned plans to reintegrate Greenwood into the first-team squad last summer following a heated public and internal reaction to a story from The athlete. He was then loaned to Getafe in La Liga, where he was named the club’s player of the season.

In February last year, British prosecutors dropped the case against him for attempted rape, assault and coercive control on the grounds that “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.” Greenwood denied all the charges against him.

His arrival in Marseille for a total package of £26.7 million has divided the fanbase, with the city’s mayor Benoit Payan saying he wanted to prevent the transfer and that it would bring “shame” on the city. Nevertheless, he was given a hero’s welcome by Marseille fans when he landed on Wednesday night.

When asked about this, Greenwood said: “I am of course aware of this, but I do not want to get involved in controversy, I already expressed my feelings last year (in a press release in August 2023). Today, all this is behind us.” He spoke of how he now has a wonderful little girl and said he and his partner “are looking forward and can’t wait to start this adventure in Marseille.”

Greenwood said he wanted to “focus on football and concentrate on life off the pitch with my family.” He added that new head coach Roberto De Zerbi was a major incentive in persuading him to join Marseille.

Meanwhile, Marseille club president Pablo Longoria said he understood that Greenwood’s arrival had raised many questions and concerns.

“I respect everyone’s opinion,” he explained. “But I’m not here to start controversy. We’re talking about the past. It’s a complex and old situation.”

“It’s time to talk about the future. As president, I will support Mason and help him achieve the club’s goals. I will help him as a player and as a person. He has all the values ​​we want to develop at the club, like all his teammates who are here and those who are yet to come.”

(Tom Burrows/The Athletic)