Mason Greenwood is Marseille’s questionable new hero – but why has the ex-Man Utd outcast been welcomed with open arms?

Few could have anticipated that Greenwood would make such a scintillating start to life in his new surroundings, especially after the furore surrounding the deal, but he has provided a reminder of his footballing ability having returned to a relatively bigger club following his spell somewhat out of the limelight at Getafe.

A seemingly shy character, it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see the attacker lay relatively low in the opening weeks of his new adventure, but De Zerbi has thrust him straight back into the spotlight and he has been rewarded on the pitch.

On his competitive debut on the opening day of the season, Greenwood announced himself to Ligue 1 with a dominant display in a 5-1 demolition of Brest away from home – playing a role in each goal. It took him just three minutes to open his account as he collected the ball on the right flank, burst away from his defender and fired a finish across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. He would make it a brace before half-time, putting away a penalty.

Marseille were less impressive in their next game as they hosted Reims, but it was Greenwood who emerged as their saviour as the clock ticked down with the score 2-1 to the visitors. With 20 minutes to go, the Englishman rose at the back post to nod home a loose ball after the goalkeeper had parried, sending the Velodrome into raptures.

Back on the road against Toulouse on matchday three, Greenwood led from the front once more, scoring twice in the space of a minute early in the first half to put OM in control of a match they eventually won 3-1. In Europe’s top five leagues so far in 2024-25, only Erling Haaland (seven) has scored more goals than Greenwood (five).

Explaining the unconditionally warm welcome Greenwood has received at Marseille so far, in the stadium at least, journalist Fabrice Lamperti – who covers OM for renowned regional newspaper La Provence – tells GOAL that the fanbase is simply in awe of the Englishman.

“The reason is simple: many supporters see Greenwood’s mere talent and realise that he is a great footballer. They also know that normally this kind of young player should never sign for OM. So, they make the most of it.

“⁠There will always be supporters who will be against his transfer and his presence at OM without ever forgetting his past. But I think that the more goals he scores and performs, the more fans he will have.”

De Zerbi – who has backed Greenwood’s arrival at the Velodrome from the outset and even went as far as to say that he would defend him “like a son” – is unsurprisingly thrilled by the forward’s start to life in the south of France.

“How far can Mason Greenwood go with me? I don’t know,” the Italian said after Greenwood’s crucial equaliser against Reims – a game that Marseille were widely expected to win. “He has to keep training like he does. Mason Greenwood is a serious boy, and we are all satisfied with him as a player, and as a person. He has a huge margin of improvement.

“Greenwood is simply exceptional. He is an excellent player, and it shows. I am happy to see him score to put an end to all the controversy in the media.”

OM’s president, Pablo Longoria, is also keen to push that “controversy” into the past, saying at Greenwood’s unveiling: “I understand that his arrival raises questions and concerns. I respect everyone’s opinions, but I do not want to get into controversy. It is the past, a complex and old situation. It is time to talk about the future. He has all the values that we want to develop in the club like all his team-mates who are here and those who will arrive.”

It is probably no coincidence that OM have broken their record for season ticket sales amid the sense of renewed optimism. As many as 49,000 members of the club’s fiercely loyal fanbase have made that commitment, and the stadium was packed out for the first home game of the season. General sale tickets were going at a premium, in stark contrast to the latter stages of 2023-24 when you could see Les Phoceens in action for less than £20.

Making his home debut, Greenwood probably would have feared the potential reception from the various ultras groups that make up Marseille’s following given his history, with many of them supporting progressive politics. However, his name received the biggest cheer of the bunch as it was announced over the tannoy before kick-off, and his goal was greeted with a deafening roar.

Indeed, Greenwood’s goal-scoring exploits already seem to have pushed the past accusations against him to the back of people’s minds, but the gears of the PR machine have been in motion since long before the transfer came to fruition.

The 22-year-old has received favourable coverage across the media in France and beyond, with the past case against him barely mentioned. In his introductory press conference, the questions were moderated by Marseille’s press officers, with a line of inquiry relating to the allegations swiftly shut down. Meanwhile, transfer specialist and – for want of a better word – influencer Fabrizio Romano has tweeted about him more than 20 times to his 22 million followers since the start of July alone, with the content often unrelated to his move.

However, there are many people in Marseille who will never accept Greenwood’s presence, neither at the club nor in the city. A collective of Marseillaise feminist groups called ‘J’crains degun’ are among the strongest voices against the transfer.

“Mason Greenwood’s transfer is unacceptable,” they said in a statement. “We oppose him becoming a public and acclaimed figure in our city. There is a duty to set an example. Violence against women is not a private matter; it is punishable by law. We all have a role to play in the fight against violence, citizens, associations, football clubs, etc.”

The group added: “We believe that this transfer is contrary to the values advocated by Olympique de Marseille and its foundation: equality, solidarity, tolerance… In 2020, during the lockdown, the club had made its training centre available to welcome and accommodate women and their children who were victims of domestic violence.

“We believe that it is necessary and essential to fight against the impunity of attackers, who are still applauded on television, on red carpets, and on football pitches. Opposing the purchase of this player would have been a strong symbol for all women, especially those who have suffered or are suffering sexist and sexual violence.”Getty

The overriding feeling is that there is a willingness to accept Greenwood because the club has been so starved of success over the last decade. OM’s last Ligue 1 title came back in 2010, and they lifted their most recent piece of silverware two years later in the form of the League Cup.

Unsurprisingly, then, there is a desperation to get back to the upper echelons of French football, and after Kylian Mbappe finally departed Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid, the competition has just been opened up to their rivals after years of Qatari-funded dominance. Greenwood is seen as a cheat code, because a player of his calibre would normally be out of reach for a side with Marseille’s relatively modest finances.

“⁠OM is chasing its past, which it is trying to restore,” La Provence‘s Lamperti tells GOAL. “The club promises to have taken all possible precautions on Greenwood before hiring him while being aware of all the repercussions around this transfer. They believe in a second chance and remind everyone that Greenwood has never been convicted. OM supporters don’t accept just anyone: on a purely sporting level, Greenwood remains a real asset.”

However, Marseille is a club where things can change quickly and dramatically. The fanbase is notoriously temperamental, and if results do not remain positive across the season or the goals dry up for Greenwoood, then the mood will darken swiftly. What we are currently witnessing could be just the honeymoon period.

Asked whether things could go awry, Lamperti says: “⁠Yes, it’s possible. It’s the law of football: From hero to zero, and vice versa.”

GOAL