Mason Greenwood has left Manchester United, but he is set to make an awkward return to English football sooner than anyone expected.
On Thursday the Greenwood saga finally came to an end when United confirmed that the 22-year-old has been transferred to Olympique de Marseille on a permanent basis.
The two clubs agreed a package worth £26.6 million (€30m), with Greenwood penning a five-year contract valid until 2029 after he passed medical tests.
There is a clause in the deal that will entitle United to 50 per cent of any profit made on the potential future sale of Greenwood.
On Thursday, United released a statement in which the club wished Greenwood “all the best in his future career.”
Greenwood last played for United in January 2022; later that month he was arrested and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Just over a year later, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges after key witnesses withdrew their involvement and “new material came to light.”
After conducting their own internal investigation into Greenwood’s conduct, United decided that it was better for both parties if the player continued his career away from Old Trafford.
Greenwood spent last season on loan at Spanish side Getafe, but United did not want to loan him out for a second summer in a row.
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— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) July 18, 2024
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🔵⚪️ #GreenwoodEstOlympien pic.twitter.com/8ntkEMFuOH
Greenwood’s return of 10 goals and six assists in 36 games for Getafe attracted the interest of several other European clubs, including Lazio and Atletico Madrid.
He may have left United for good, but Greenwood could return to British shores a lot sooner than anyone expected.
On Saturday August 3, Marseille will play a friendly match against Sunderland at Bradford City’s Valley Parade Stadium.
The unusual meeting will celebrate the life of Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the father of Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
Robert was the majority shareholder of Marseille between 1996 and 2009, and the match will mark 15 years since his death.
The match will take place in Bradford due to the unavailability of Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Greenwood, who will wear the number 10 shirt for the 1993 Champions League winners, is likely to feature as he did not take part in Euro 2024 this summer.
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