Inside Mason Greenwood’s French renaissance: How controversial ex-Man United star is winning over Marseille fans with the support of a social media star and a manager who pledges to ‘defend him like a son’

Mason Greenwood will always remain a toxic figure within football.

A few years ago, the forward had the world at his feet. Viewed as one of the most promising young talents to ever break through at Manchester United, Greenwood had scored 35 goals for the club and made his England debut before turning 21.

But in January 2022, Greenwood was arrested and charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive control after a series of harrowing images and voice recordings were shared online, bringing his career crashing down.

The forward denied all the charges and the criminal allegations were eventually dropped in February 2023 by the Crown Prosecution Service, who cited the withdrawal of key witnesses and ‘new material that came to light’.

Greenwood was subsequently shipped out from United on loan to Getafe last September after it was mutually agreed he would play no further role at Old Trafford following an internal investigation.

Greenwood is attempting to rebuild his career after a hugely controversial couple of years

Greenwood last played for United in January 2022 before he was charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive control. Greenwood denied the charges before the case was dropped

Greenwood’s move to Spain was widely criticised, but he was well-supported by Getafe and their fans, while he excelled on the pitch, scoring 10 goals in 36 appearances for the LaLiga outfit.

With zero chance of Greenwood continuing his career at Old Trafford, this summer was all about securing a permanent move away. 

The forward eventually joined Marseille for an initial £19.8m fee, a figure that was below his market value in terms of his talent, but something that was made possible due to his hugely controversial past.

The transfer caused significant divides within the city of Marseille however, with the Mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, opposing it, insisting that he does not want the club ‘shamed by someone who hits his wife’, while he also called the forward a ‘disgrace’.

He similarly said the transfer went against ‘the values ​​of OM [Olympique Marseille] and [the city of] Marseille.’ 

There were also staunch protests from supporters who launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign earlier in July, although #GreenwoodWelcome was also concurrently trending on social media.

Mail Sport also previously reported how for many it was also a transfer at odds with OM’s very ethos. Marseille’s supporters have often seen themselves as the holders of the high ground both morally and ethically. 

When Qatar took over at Paris Saint-Germain, great noise was made over how a Gulf State would never be permitted to seize control of OM. Meanwhile, rivals Lyon and Nice have traditionally been looked down on, amid allegations of racism amid their fanbases.

But Greenwood’s move to Marseille divided the city in two due to his controversial past

 #GreenwoodNotWelcome and #GreenwoodWelcome were trending online ahead of his arrival

Marseille mayor Benoit Payan publicly opposed Greenwood’s move, labelling him ‘a disgrace’

Many of those who follow Marseille view themselves as the good guys. In 2022 there was protest, online at least, over the move for Roma midfielder Jordan Veretout, briefly of Aston Villa. 

OM fans launched a hashtag #VeretoutNotWelcome on social media, based on a report that the player had paid the legal costs of his father-in-law, who had been accused of sexually assaulting one of his daughters – Veretout’s sister-in-law – and who was sentenced to two years in prison. The father-in-law’s lawyer repeatedly denied the claims that Veretout paid the legal fees.  

Meanwhile, in 2020, in the grim onset of the Covid pandemic, Marseille opened the doors of its training ground to victims of domestic abuse. A group of 18 women stayed at the complex, which was closed due to the suspension of the league. More than 40 rooms were turned around in less than a week, with the club providing cleaning, security, food and transport for free.

Lockdown saw a spike in instances of domestic violence, while more than 5,000 complaints were made in 2019 in the Bouches-du-Rhone department in which Marseille sits. The seems a long way from where we are now and that has not gone unnoticed elsewhere.

Mail Sport also previously explained how the call to sign Greenwood was made by club president Pablo Longoria, who is from Oviedo, close to Getafe sporting director Ruben Reyes’ home city of Gijon. Reyes played for Oviedo for two years and the pair are known to be very tight. Longoria will likely have been given chapter and verse on Greenwood’s time on the fringes of the Spanish capital, both on and off the field. 

Yet despite the concerns and protests – that even saw some fans return their season tickets – Marseille pushed harder than anyone else to sign Greenwood. 

The hugely controversial call to sign Greenwood was made by club president Pablo Longoria

Greenwood scored 10 goals and added six assists in 36 games on loan with Getafe last season

Some view Longoria as a man for whom performance on the football field is above all else. An initial payment short of £20m for a player of Greenwood’s talent and potential proved too enticing to resist. 

While there remain extreme moral questions about whether it was right for the Ligue 1 side to bring in Greenwood, he has made an impact on the pitch so far, while former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, now in charge of Marseille, has been one of his staunchest defenders in the media.

Speaking to L’Equipe after his signing, De Zerbi said: ‘(Greenwood was) the first player I called (after taking the job). 

‘I [told him] that when a player becomes my player, I’m the first to pin him to the wall when he makes a mistake. 

‘But towards the outside [world], I will always defend him as I would defend my son.’

Greenwood has so far repaid that faith to De Zerbi on the pitch, with the former Man United man scoring twice on his debut in a 5-1 win at Brest.

Following that game, De Zerbi controversially added: ‘I am happy that he scored. It will calm the controversies that surrounded his arrival.’ 

The 22-year-old was booed throughout the clash in Brittany but the Italian also said: ‘Mason Greenwood is a player different from the others, he has an extraordinary level.’

Greenwood followed this up with a late equaliser against Reims on Sunday night to secure a point for Marseille, with De Zerbi again lauding the forward and highlighting his excitement at what he could achieve this season.

He enjoyed a dream debut against Brest, scoring twice, while he also netted against Reims

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has promised to defend the 22-year-old forward ‘like a son’

‘He must continue to train as he does,’ De Zerbi said. ‘We are all happy with him as a player, and with his behaviour since his arrival. 

‘He has incredible room for improvement.’ 

The French press have also seemingly lapped up the arrival of the former United man, with L’Equipe’s front page on Monday hailing Greenwood’s impact.

A photo of him celebrating his goal against Reims was accompanied with the headline: ‘OM-Greenwoood L’amour sans condition’, which translates as ‘Marseille-Greenwood, unconditional love’, with many viewing this as an extremely jarring given the forward’s background.

The newspaper also stated that Greenwood’s successful start has immediately contributed to ‘clearing the clouds that had been hovering over his head’ since signing for Marseille.

They also claimed that the former Man United forward’s exploits have impressed team-mates, with one said to have described Greenwood as ‘an alien’. 

Greenwood’s shirt has similarly been the most requested in the club’s official store in recent weeks, according to reports.

The newspaper did note that Greenwood must be consistent, adding that critics of his transfer in Marseille could ‘wake up very quickly’ should he fail to deliver on the pitch.

Greenwood was on the front page of L’Equipe on Monday, with a photo of him celebrating his goal against Reims, accompanied by the headline: ‘OM-Greenwood – unconditional love’

Greenwood played once for England in 2020 but is set to switch his allegiances to Jamaica

The next stage of Greenwood’s career revival could come internationally, with the forward reportedly having submitted a request to change his national allegiance to Jamaica, who the 22-year-old is eligible for through his parents.

A report in The Sun claimed that new Reggae Boyz boss Steve McClaren convinced Greenwood – who made a single senior appearance for England against Iceland in 2020 – to make the switch.

But for now, while questions will always remain over whether Greenwood should still be playing football, in southern France, he is slowly rebuilding his career on the pitch, surrounded by a supportive manager and fanbase that seem to be slowly warming to him.