Mason Greenwood’s loan spell at Getafe, where he netted eight goals in 33 La Liga matches, has concluded, and it appears that his future lies away from Manchester United’s Old Trafford.
Initially, United had hoped to reintegrate Greenwood into their first-team squad after charges of assault, attempted rape, and coercive behavior against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service due to the withdrawal of key witnesses. However, intense public backlash forced the club to reconsider their stance.
United’s longstanding preference has been to secure a permanent transfer for Greenwood. Clubs such as Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid have all been linked with the 22-year-old. Recently,
The Athletic reported that Marseille is “exploring a deal” for Greenwood, with negotiations still in the preliminary stages and financial specifics yet to be discussed.
Despite the early stage of talks, the French club is described as “keen to recruit” Greenwood, who reportedly favors a move to Marseille over other potential options.
Roberto De Zerbi is set to become the new manager of Marseille, following his departure from Brighton & Hove Albion. During the 2023/24 season, Marseille competed in the Champions League qualifying rounds and subsequently in the Europa League, reaching the semi-finals of the latter competition.
However, their disappointing eighth-place finish in Ligue 1 means they will not participate in European football in the upcoming season.
Marseille relied heavily on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for goals last season, with the 35-year-old scoring 30 times across all competitions.
The next highest scorers for the club were center-back Chancel Mbemba and former Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye, each with six goals, highlighting the club’s need for additional attacking options.
Marseille has a rich history within French football, having last won the Ligue 1 title in 2010 and their most recent trophy in 2012. They are nine-time national champions, a record surpassed only by Saint-Etienne (10) and Paris Saint-Germain (12), and remain the sole French club to have won the European Cup.
Manchester United is reportedly targeting a £30 million transfer fee for Greenwood. Should they fail to secure what they consider an acceptable price, the club may trigger a 12-month extension in Greenwood’s contract, extending it until 2026, and consider another loan move. In this scenario, Getafe could emerge as a potential destination once again.
