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Mason Greenwood has “requested for time” to think about his potential swap to French aspect Olympique de Marseille amid backlash from the membership’s supporters.
Corriere dello Sport, an Italian sports activities newspaper, studies the 22-year-old ahead is about to decide on his future by “tomorrow” after requesting time to evaluate his departure from Previous Trafford.
Greenwood has not performed for Manchester United since January 2022 following his arrest on suspicion of rape and assault. He was subsequently charged with tried rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour in October of the identical yr.
Nevertheless, these fees had been then dropped in February 2023, with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) stating there was “now not a sensible prospect of conviction” after key witnesses withdrew their cooperation from the investigation.
The membership launched an inner investigation of their very own which culminated in plans by United executives to reintegrate Greenwood into the first-team squad being leaked by The Athletic. This was met with acute backlash by followers, forcing United to swiftly retreat and reverse their determination, deciding to as a substitute ship Greenwood on mortgage for the season, away from England.
The ahead joined Liga aspect Getafe on a season-long mortgage the place he shortly impressed, regardless of his lengthy absence from aggressive soccer. He would find yourself profitable the membership’s Participant of the Season award, having produced 8 targets and 6 assists in 33 video games.
There have been moments of controversy, nonetheless, which served as well timed reminders for why Greenwood’s future would at all times lie away from Previous Trafford.
Essentially the most noticeable incident was a conflict with England worldwide Jude Bellingham, which noticed Spanish officers probe whether or not the midfielder had mouthed the phrase “r-pist” at Greenwood throughout a match between Actual Madrid and Getafe. Greenwood was believed to have wished the case to be dropped instantly, not wishing for any additional consideration to be drawn to him, and Bellingham was not charged with something.
United officers have been searching for to facilitate a everlasting departure for the 22-year-old ahead this summer season, as they search to generate as a lot earnings as attainable to assist bolster the membership’s switch funds.
The perfect supply – and one which has been accepted – got here from Marseille, price a reported €31.6million. Greenwood was additionally reported to have given his “inexperienced mild” to the proposal by the French membership.
Nevertheless, Marseille followers had been sad with probably signing a participant with Greenwood’s current previous, and “launched a protest motion on social networks”, with the Mayor of town, Benoit Payan, additionally condemning the switch. “Greenwood’s behaviour is unspeakable, unacceptable. Hitting his spouse… I noticed photographs that deeply shocked me. Attacking his spouse on this method is unworthy of a person and I consider he can’t have a spot on this group,” Payan said.
And it’s this visceral response which is probably going giving Greenwood pause over a deal which had appeared locked in final week, as defined by Corriere dello Sport. “[Marseille] has the settlement with United. However the Englishman requested for time, shaken by the revolt staged by the Marseille ultras and by the diktat of the mayor of Marseille: ‘We don’t need it.’”
From United’s perspective, Previous Trafford officers shall be determined to verify this switch as shortly as attainable. It would allow the membership to maneuver on and be free from a state of affairs at all times prone to spark controversy, whereas additionally buttressing the switch funds in an especially necessary window for the Pink Devils.
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