Olympique Marseille president defends Mason Greenwood signing amid public criticism
What's the story
Pablo Longoria, the president of French football club Olympique Marseille, has defended his decision to sign Mason Greenwood from Manchester United.
The £26.6 million deal was finalized in August, with Greenwood committing to the French club until 2029.
This move materialized after serious charges against Greenwood, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in February 2023.
Here's more.
Criticism addressed
Longoria responds to criticism over Greenwood's signing
The decision to sign Greenwood was met with disapproval from the local mayor, who deemed it "not acceptable."
This criticism emerged when Marseille's intention to bring on board the forward, who had previously been on loan at Spanish club Getafe, became public.
In response to whether such criticism has led him to regret the move, Longoria stated at the Thinking Football Summit that they had considered all information before making their decision.
Player performance
Longoria highlights Greenwood's talent and performance
Longoria revealed that in their initial discussion with coach Roberto de Zerbi, Greenwood's name was brought up due to his recognized talent.
Since joining Marseille, Greenwood has scored five goals in three matches for the Ligue 1 club.
Longoria expressed satisfaction with Greenwood's performance, stating that he is "behaving fantastically" and they are "very happy to have him playing in our team."
National team
England's stance on Greenwood remains unclear
Despite his impressive performance at Marseille, England's caretaker manager Lee Carsley stated that Greenwood "wasn't a player we considered" for the national team.
When asked about this, Longoria chose not to comment out of respect for all parties involved.
He preferred to focus on Greenwood's contributions in France and Marseille, expressing satisfaction with his performances during his initial weeks with the club.
Information
Greenwood's career in numbers
Greenwood managed 10 goals and six assists for Getafe in all competitions last season. Before that, the Manchester United academy graduate scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for the club. He made 10 assists.