Marseille fans have launched a campaign against the signing of Mason Greenwood as the club closes in on a move for the Manchester United forward.
Mail Sport reported on Monday that the Ligue 1 side have jumped to the top of the race to sign the 22-year-old, and are believed to have made an offer worth £27m and a substantial sell-on fee.
It means that Greenwood’s controversial stint at Old Trafford could be coming to an end, after he spent last season on loan at Getafe.
He has been told he has no future at the Red Devils despite charges of attempted rape and assault against him being dropped last year.
Marseille supporters have launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign, insisting the signing of the United outcast could do ‘irreversible damage’ to their values.
Mason Greenwood is closing in on a £27m move to leave Manchester United for Marseille
Marseille fans though have launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign on social media
Greenwood had charges of attempted rape and assault against him dropped last year though Marseille fans urged the club not to do ‘irreversible damage’ to their values.
A statement on OM Forum said: ‘At a time when negotiations for the arrival of Mason Greenwood are announced as becoming increasingly heated, 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.’
The #GreenwoodNotWelcome hashtag has been shared on social media platform X – formerly Twitter – with fans calling on the club not to sign the Englishman.
One fan tagged the club and sporting director Medhi Benatia, while writing: ‘What makes us love this club is above all it’s values. Don’t betray them.’
Greenwood held talks with United officials at Carrington on Monday but did not train with his team-mates on the first day of pre-season.
Marseille have moved ahead of the likes of Lazio, Atletico Madrid and Valencia in the race to sign the player.
He has not played for United since January 2022 when the allegations first came out.
Greenwood had been charged with attempted rape, assault, and coercive behaviour in January 2022 after a series of harrowing images and voice recordings were shared online.
However the charges were dropped on February 2023 by the Crown Prosecution Service following the withdrawal of key witnesses. Greenwood has denied any wrongdoing.
Fans took to social media asking the French club to not ‘betray its values’ by signing Greenwood
Greenwood could link up with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi who is now at Marseille
A statement on OM Forum said the transfer seems ‘inconceivable in view of the values displayed by the club’ (president Pablo Longoria pictured)
The club continued to its own internal investigation until August of that year – when it was announced he would leave by mutual agreement.
Greenwood in a statement upon agreeing to leave United, said last August: ‘I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard on social media, and I know people will think the worst.
‘I was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong, I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges.
‘However, I fully accept I made mistakes in my relationship, and I take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post.’
Greenwood has not played for Manchester United since 2022 when the allegations came out
Greenwood who maintained his innocence spent last season on loan at Spanish side Getafe
He was loaned out by the Red Devils and now looks set to leave on a permanent deal with his contract up in the summer of 2025.
A move to Marseille could see him link up with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, who has only recently joined the French side.
De Zerbi signed a three-year contract with the club that finished eighth in France’s top division last season.
Following his appointment, De Zerbi said: ‘I had a very strong desire to join the club.’
De Zerbi added that he wanted to ‘help the club regain the position that Marseille deserves’.