Benoit Payen, the mayor of the French city of Marseille, has publicly rejected a deal to buy English player Mason Greenwood from Spanish club Getafe, where he played on loan from his club Manchester United, for £27 million.
The mayor said he did not want the city club to “feel ashamed of signing a player who beats his wife,” referring to the accusation of attempted rape and beating of a girl he was in a relationship with in 2022.
Greenwood scored 10 goals for Getafe last season and caught the eye of new Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi, who has vowed to defend him if he is bought.
“Greenwood’s behaviour is inexcusable and completely unacceptable,” said the mayor of Marseille. “He beats his wife? I saw the pictures and I was shocked. A man who bullies his wife has no place in our club and does not fit our values. This is a disgrace. I will speak to Pablo Longoria not to buy it. Olympique de Marseille is more than a club, it is the soul of the city and there is no place there for people who commit this type of crime.”
Greenwood defended himself last August, saying: “I understand those who criticize and judge me because of what they read on social media, but I realized that violence in a relationship is wrong and I did not do what people say, and the court acquitted me of all charges, but I still take responsibility for my mistakes in the relationship.”
Marseille fans launched a campaign on social media under the hashtag “Greenwood is not welcome” to prevent the club from tarnishing its reputation by signing the winger. The Marseille Supporters Association published a statement confirming their rejection of the potential deal and that the club’s reputation is a red line.