Mayor of Marseille calls on club not to sign Greenwood from Man United

The mayor of Marseille has urged Olympique Marseille not to sign Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, describing the striker’s alleged past behaviour as “indescribable” after sources told ESPN that the clubs had reached an agreement on a permanent transfer for the 22-year-old.

Greenwood spent last season on loan at Getafe. He has not played for United since being suspended by the club in January 2022 after being arrested on suspicion of rape and assault. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the existence of “social media images and videos posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence”.

The former England international was subsequently charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. However, the charges were later dropped following the withdrawal of key witnesses and the announcement that “new evidence that has come to light no longer gives a realistic prospect of conviction”.

“Greenwood’s behavior is unspeakable and unacceptable,” Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan told French radio station RMC on Tuesday. “He beat his wife… I saw images that shocked me deeply. To massacre his wife in this way is unworthy of a man and he has no place on this team.”

“The values ​​of OM and Marseille are in reality anything but that. It’s a disgrace. I will ask (Marseille president) Pablo Longoria not to sign Greenwood. I don’t want my club to be covered with the shame of someone who beats his wife.”

Sources have told ESPN that Marseille have agreed to a deal worth £26.7 million ($35 million), including add-ons and a sizeable sell-on clause, to sign Greenwood.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi said he had no prejudices because of Greenwood’s past:

“Mason is a world-class player, but we haven’t recruited him yet. I don’t know what happened, but I’m not used to interfering in the private lives of my players. But if he comes here, you must know that I treat all my players like my sons. I can scold them privately, but I would never attack them publicly.”

Greenwood scored eight goals and provided six assists during his loan at Getafe last season.