Mason Greenwood’s Awkward Return to English Football Imminent
It’s been a tumultuous journey for Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, from his departure from Old Trafford to his latest transfer to Olympique de Marseille. But, it appears that the 22-year-old could be making an awkward return to English football sooner than expected.
As we reported earlier, Greenwood has put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Marseille, with the French club paying a whopping £26.6 million (€30m) for his services. The deal includes a clause that entitles United to 50% of any profit made on Greenwood’s potential future sale.
But, what’s caught our attention is that Marseille will be facing Sunderland in a friendly match at Valley Parade Stadium on August 3, with Greenwood set to feature for the Ligue 1 outfit. This comes as a surprise, considering the Premier League has been Greenwood’s bread and butter for most of his career.
Greenwood’s last taste of English football was with United in January 2022, but things took a dramatic turn when he was arrested and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The Crown Prosecution Service later dropped the charges due to key witnesses withdrawing their involvement and "new material coming to light."
Following an internal investigation, United decided that it was best for both parties if Greenwood continued his career away from Old Trafford. He spent last season on loan at Spanish side Getafe, where he impressed with 10 goals and six assists in 36 games.
The Sunderland match will be a peculiar occasion, as it will celebrate the life of Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the father of Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. The French businessman was the majority shareholder of Marseille between 1996 and 2009, and the match will mark 15 years since his passing.
Greenwood, who will wear the number 10 shirt for Marseille, is likely to feature in the match, as he didn’t participate in Euro 2024 this summer. This could be a telling sign of his intentions to make a mark in the French league.
So, will Greenwood’s return to English football be a successful one? Only time will tell. But, one thing is certain – we’ll be keeping a close eye on his progress.
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