Marseille fans launch furious protest after club's bid for Mason Greenwood - The Mirror

Mason Greenwood is being linked with permanent transfer from Manchester United to Marseille but French club's fans are already raising grave concerns about the club's image

Furious Marseille fans are demanding that their club back out of a move for Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood.

An online campaign has been launched in which supporters of the French club say “irreparable damage” would be caused if a permanent transfer is sealed for Greenwood.

But the Ligue 1 side are at the front of a queue also featuring Lazio with United willing to accept about £35m for the 22-year-old once valued at double that amount.

However an article posted on OM Forum by prominent Marseille supporters has sent a warning to their club’s decision makers over how their values and role in their city's wider society will be undermined.

Part of it reads: “At a time when negotiations for the arrival of Mason Greenwood are announced as becoming increasingly advanced, it seems necessary to explain, once again and before the damage becomes irreversible, why this transfer seems inconceivable in view of the values displayed by the club and why it would mean for many of us a red line that would irreparably damage the passion that we have for this club."

On social media fans have also highlighted their unhappiness with a potential deal under the hashtag #GreenwoodNotWelcome and the OM forum article has accused the club of deciding "that only the end justifies the means and all talents are good to take to achieve sporting excellence, in disregard of the society role it has in the city."

Greenwood has not played for United since January 2022, when he was arrested and subsequently charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive control. But the one-time England international had his case discontinued by prosecutors following the withdrawal of co-operation from key witnesses.

United had considered bringing Greenwood back to their first-team squad only for supporter backlash to force them into loaning the forward to Spanish side Getafe last season. He scored 10 goals in 36 La Liga appearances and has also attracted interest from Juventus.

Greenwood attended United's training ground on Monday but was not part of the first day of pre-season training and it is understood that talks about his future took place instead.

Marseille last week announced that Roberto de Zerbi has become their new head coach after the Italian left Brighton and Hove Albion at the end of last season.

Addressing the media for the first time in his new job today, De Zerbi said of his high-octane style of play: "From a footballing point of view, you have to play with courage, have fun on the pitch while knowing what you have to do."

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