The long-standing saga of Mason Greenwood’s transfer concluded last week as he departed from Manchester United for Marseille. According to The Athletic, former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi was instrumental in the move, reportedly reaching out to Greenwood and his father Andrew daily during the transfer discussions.
Despite some backlash from Marseille supporters due to Greenwood’s past allegations—although all charges were eventually dropped—De Zerbi has remained supportive of the 22-year-old forward. Before Greenwood’s signing was finalized, De Zerbi declared, “What I can say is that once a player signs with Marseille, all the players, he becomes like a son to me and I will protect him from anyone. If I have to pull their ears or put him against the wall I will — but in front of people, I will defend him like a son.”
The Athletic notes that De Zerbi’s assurances had a significant impact on Greenwood, who ultimately approved the transfer to Marseille.
Greenwood, who inked a five-year contract with Marseille for an initial fee of £23.3 million ($30 million), had been connected to clubs like Lazio, Barcelona, and Getafe before choosing the Ligue 1 side. Last season, while on loan at Getafe, he netted 10 goals and provided six assists across all competitions.
As he prepares for his full debut with Marseille next month, Greenwood may feature in their upcoming pre-season matches against SC Toulon, Pau, Sunderland, and Augsburg.