Marseille’s sporting director was reportedly keen to offload Mason Greenwood last summer amid concerns over his commitment and work rate, a new report has claimed.
Former Man United forward Greenwood had finished as the joint top scorer in Ligue 1 last season alongside PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, with the forwards netting 21 goals.
This was aided by Greenwood’s late season form, where he scored six goals in eight matches to help Marseille qualify for the Champions League.
The form reportedly also proved key to Greenwood remaining at the club, with a report from La Provence claiming sporting director Medhi Benatia had been keen to sell him that summer.
Benatia was said to have expressed concerns over Greenwood’s contribution defensively, while the forward was claimed to have avoided the sporting director around the club.
Benatia’s assessment was briefly shared by the club’s head coach Roberto de Zerbi.
Mason Greenwood was reportedly nearly forced out of Marseille by their sporting director
Medhi Benatia was said to have wanted to have sold Greenwood last summer amid concerns over his attitude and work ethic
De Zerbi had dropped Greenwood for matches against Lens and PSG in March last year.
‘I expect more from him. He has to do more, because what he is currently showing is not enough,’ De Zerbi initially said when asked about Greenwood being dropped to the bench.
‘If he wants to achieve his ambition of becoming a champion, he has to be more consistent, sacrifice more and be more determined.’
De Zerbi later added: ‘Greenwood is a very good person whom I love, as I love his father. He’s had a bit of a tough time lately because he had a daughter who was born, and I don’t think he’s used to playing such an intense season and being a main player. I think he paid for it physically.
‘That is to say that he didn’t push himself and wasn’t 100 percent as I wanted in training, in terms of what I expect from a player like him.
‘His physical condition has declined a little, but my project in Marseille is not only to qualify for the Champions League, it is also to create something like what Luis Enrique has created (at PSG). He has created a team, a group of strong players, but with a soul.’
Marseille’s decision to sign Greenwood in the summer of 2024 had been controversial, with the French side having agreed a £30m deal to bring the forward in from Man United.
Greenwood had emerged as one of Man United’s brightest young talents, but did not play for the club again after he was arrested in January 2022 before being charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.
The a new report claims the signing of Greenwood had led to internal disputes at Marseille
Greenwood remains a key player at Marseille having scored 25 goals so far this season
Charges against Greenwood were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light’. Greenwood, who denied the charges, then spent a season on loan at Spanish side Getafe before joining Marseille.
The decision to sign Greenwood was reportedly part of an internal dispute at the club, with tensions reported to have escalated between Benatia and Cecilia Barontini – a senior official tasked with overseeing the club’s administration – over the deal.
Barontini was reported by La Provence to have opposed the decision to sign Greenwood and Youcef Atal – who had been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence by a French court in 2024 after sharing an antisemitic video on social media.
An incident report was reportedly filed by Barontini with police following a heated confrontation with Benatia.
Barontini, who had spent four years as Marseille’s head of human resources, left the club in December 2024 just six months after being made general manager.
Following De Zerbi’s departure last month, Benatia confirmed he would also be stepping down as sporting director. Despite suggesting he would leave immediately, Benatia later confirmed he will depart at the end of the season.
Greenwood remains a central player at Marseille, with the forward having scored 25 goals in 37 matches this season.
