Mason Greenwood is set to play his first match in the UK since attempted rape charges against him were dropped as his new club Marseille face Sunderland in a pre-season game.
The forward, 22, was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour in October 2022, but the charges and case were dropped in February 2023 when key witnesses withdrew. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Greenwood joined Marseille from Manchester United on July 17 for £27million plus £3.2million in add-ons, having spent last season on loan at La Liga outfit Getafe.
His new club are set to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on August 3, marking Greenwood’s first appearance in this country since January 2022, when the allegations came out whilst he was a Manchester United player.
The charges against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the withdrawal of key witnesses, but the club continued its own internal investigation into a series of harrowing images and audio recordings. In August 2023 it was announced he would leave Manchester United by mutual agreement.
Greenwood (pictured) joined Marseille from Manchester United on July 17 for £27million plus £3.2million in add-ons
His new club are set to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on August 3, marking Greenwood’s first appearance in this country since January 2022
Marseille supporters launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign earlier in July and while some welcomed him to the airport with cheers on July 17, others protested in the fiercest terms on social media.
The city’s mayor Benoit Payan opposed the move and attempted to lobby the club’s president Pablo Longoria to call off the deal.
But the former England international finalised his move across the channel to link up with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi at the Stade Velodrome on July 17.
He scored his first goal for the club in a pre-season friendly against Pau on Saturday, July 27.
Despite having his critics, Joey Barton backed Greenwood’s move and insisted England could have won Euro 2024 by playing the striker.
Posting on X, Barton wrote: ‘That is a great signing. This kid deserves a chance to get on with his career.
‘We all make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect. England would have won the Euros with this kid in the side.
‘He’s as good a player as any in that Euros squad. His behaviour and the public fallout has massively affected his performance, yet he went to an average team in Spain and got himself back on track!’
Barton added: ‘I hope Mason and his family find peace and prosperity in the south of France. Be allowed to get on with their young lives. And hopefully he can get the opportunity to atone for his errors.
Greenwood, 22, recently completed a £30m transfer from Manchester United to Marseille
Greenwood had charges of attempted rape and assault against him dropped last year
Marseille fans launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign on social media
Greenwood scored 10 goals and added six assists in 34 games on loan with Getafe last season
‘I know the fans of Marseille love their club. This boy could be as good a player as any Englishman that has pulled on your jersey before. With the support your incredible he will set Ligue 1 on fire. This kid is good. Believe me. If you support him, OM take back over.
‘Great coach in Roberto De Zerbi. Big conkers to take Greenwood.’
Greenwood made 129 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 35 goals.
During his solitary season in Spain, Greenwood scored 10 goals and registered six assists on his way to being named Getafe’s player of the season.
The club’s partial owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had left the door open to Greenwood returning after taking a 25 per cent stake in the club last December.
‘It’s a fresh decision,’ he said despite the club previously ruling out a return.
‘I can talk about the principle. I am not going to talk about Mason. I am familiar with it. The principle is the important one. We will have other issues going forwards.
‘You are dealing with young people who have not always been brought up in the best circumstances, who have a lot of money and they don’t always have the guidance they should have.
‘What we need to do when have issues like that is understand real affects not the hype then we need to make a fair decision in the light of the club’s values. That’s what we need to do and that’s how we will deal with it.’