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Manchester United attacker Mason Greenwood is reportedly considering walking away from the deal to join Marseille. Greenwood received heavy criticism from the Mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, who urged the Ligue 1 side not to sign the Englishman.
As per a report by journalist Gianluca Di Marzio (via GOAL), Greenwood has now paused talks with Marseille and is considering other options. However, the Ligue 1 side have not yet given up on signing the Manchester United academy product and are still pushing for the deal to go through.
Roberto De Zerbi, the new Marseille manager, commented on Greenwood earlier this week and hinted that the club were in talks with the Englishman. The Italian claimed that he doesn't get into players' private lives, referring to the England international's sexual assault case, saying (via GOAL):
"Mason is a world class player but we have not recruited him yet. I don't know what happened, but I am not used to get involved in my players' private life. But if he comes here, you have to know that I treat all my players like my sons. I can tell them off in private, but I would never attack them in public."
Benfica, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus were said to be interested in signing Mason Greenwood. Napoli showed interest last summer, while Valencia had a bid rejected.
Marseille mayor wants Ligue1 side to stop deal for Mason Greenwood
Marseille mayor Benoit Payan wasn't pleased with reports that the Ligue 1 club were nearing a move for Mason Greenwood. He claimed that the city's values were completely opposite to what the Manchester United forward allegedly did to his partner.
He said (via Sport Witness):
"Greenwood's behaviour is unspeakable, unacceptable. Hitting his wife... I saw images that deeply shocked me. Attacking his wife in this way is unworthy of a man, and I believe he cannot have a place in this team. The values of Marseille and the values of Olympique de Marseille are anything but that. It's anything but racism, anti-Semitism. It's anything but... can you imagine, violence against women? Do you realise that? And he wants to play for Olympique de Marseille, Greenwood?"
He added:
"It's a disgrace. I will ask the president of Olympique de Marseille not to recruit Greenwood. I don't want my club to be covered in the shame of someone who hits his wife. I don't want my club to be covered in the ashes of someone who hits his wife like that. It's not acceptable."
His comments came shortly after The Athletic reported that Manchester United and Marseille had agreed on a deal for Greenwood. Football journalist David Ornstein claimed that a €31.6 million fee was agreed between the clubs with a significant sell-on clause.
