Mason Greenwood is edging closer to an Old Trafford exit after Marseille made their move for the Manchester United forward.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Ligue 1 club have reached "an agreement in principle" with the 22-year-old forward.
Greenwood has not played for United since he was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive control in January 2022. The UK's Crown Prosecution Service dropped its case against him in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their cooperation. Greenwood denied all the allegations.
Nevertheless, United announced in August 2023 that Greenwood's future would be away from the club, and he spent last season on loan with LaLiga side Getafe, scoring 10 goals in 36 appearances.
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Those performances reportedly drew admiring glances from Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Benfica. However, Marseille moved decisively last week to steal a march on the competition.
Mason Greenwood transfer fee: How much will he cost Marseille?
As per The Athletic's reporting, Greenwood will join Marseille in a deal that could rise to be worth €31.6million ($34.4m).
A fixed fee of €27.6m ($30m) would be supplemented by €4m ($4.35m) in performance-related add-ons. United would also be entitled to a significant percentage of any future sale.
What did Marseille’s mayor say about Mason Greenwood?
Citing the previous domestic violence allegations against Greenwood, which included photo and audio evidence posted to social media by his partner, Marseille mayor Benoit Payan has urged OM against the signing.
He told RMC Sport: "Greenwood's behaviour is unspeakable, unacceptable. Hitting his wife… I saw images that deeply shocked me. Abusing his wife in this way is unbecoming of a man and he cannot have his place on this team.
"The values of OM and Marseille are anything but that in fact. It's a shame. I don't want my club to be covered with the shame of someone who hits his wife. Olympique de Marseille is more than a club. It is a spirit, and there is no place for those who behave in this way, for those who commit this kind of crime and offence.”
However, new coach Roberto De Zerbi vowed to stand by Greenwood if he signs and hailed the abilities of the once-capped England international.
"Greenwood isn’t recruited yet so there isn’t much to say. He’s a champion, an international level player," he said. "I don't know what happened, I'm not concentrating on private lives. When a player signs for the club, I consider him my child. Even if I can pull his ear in private, I will defend him publicly. My players are like my sons."
When his United departure was announced last August, Greenwood addressed the allegations against him.
"I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard on social media, and I know people will think the worst," he said in a statement.
"I was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong, I did not do the things I was accused of. However, I fully accept I made mistakes in my relationship, and I take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post."
