Marseille fans have been furious over the signing of Mason Greenwood, branding the decision “disgusting” and “immoral” in a series of angry online comments.
The French club have completed the signing of Greenwood, 22, from Manchester United for £27m plus £3.2m in variables. Last season he was named Getafe’s player of the season after scoring 10 goals and providing six assists during his loan spell.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour in October 2022, but the charges and the case were dropped in February 2023 when key witnesses walked away. The striker has denied any wrongdoing.
Marseille supporters launched the #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign at the start of July and while some greeted him at the airport with cheers on Wednesday evening, others have now protested in the fiercest terms on social media.
“I’ve never felt so ashamed to support this club. It disgusts me to see this kid in our colours, it disgusts me to see him being defended or even supported by some. Without me,” wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
Marseille fans have been outraged by the signing of Mason Greenwood, calling it “disgusting”
The French club have signed Greenwood, 22, from Manchester United for £27m plus £3.2m in add-ons.
Charges against Greenwood for attempted rape and assault were dropped last year.
Fans have branded the decision to sign Greenwood “disgusting” and “immoral” on social media.
Greenwood landed in France on Wednesday and was greeted by enthusiastic fans at the airport.
“They are big, disgusting guys, how disgusting,” wrote another.
One fan called it “the most immoral moment” in the club’s history.
Greenwood returned to Carrington on Monday to speak to United bosses about his departure. He has not played for the Red Devils since January 2022, when the allegations came to light.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against him following the withdrawal of key witnesses, but the club continued its own internal investigation into a series of harrowing images and audio recordings. In August 2023 it was announced that he would be leaving by mutual consent.
Meanwhile, a widely followed fan account has received more than 2,000 likes for a lengthy essay denouncing the signing.
It says: ‘There are things much more important than football… and respect for women is one of them!!!’
‘I am terribly disappointed with the arrival of Mason Greenwood to the club that I have supported since I was a child. The club that I fell in love with, for its players, its history but also, and above all, for its values and its positions, where women occupy a very important place.
“What message are you sending with this signature to the thousands of women who fill the stands of the Vélodrome, to the millions of women who support you around the world, to the dozens of women and children victims of domestic violence whom you have welcomed during Covid???”
A well-followed fan account received over 2,000 likes for this lengthy essay.
Greenwood spent the 2023-24 season on loan at La Liga side Getafe and scored 10 goals, earning the player of the season award.
‘OM is first and foremost a football club, so I fully understand that the directors only thought about the athlete and not the values and image of the club… but for me that doesn’t work anyway.
‘But hey, he’s here now. So I’m not going to clap or shout his name when he scores, but if he wants to and tries to become a better person, then I’ll support him in that process… But that’s all from me!
‘I’m a fan of Olympique de Marseille, I support this shirt, this badge… not the coaches or the players!
‘Everyone is free to think what they want about themselves, I have my opinion and I respect those who have a different one.
‘The only thing I can ask of you is that you don’t divide yourselves, and if you want to debate, do it with respect.. COME ON OM!’
There were also messages of good luck and welcome for Greenwood written beneath the mail from Marseille announcing his arrival.
Joey Barton claims England would have won Euro 2024 with Mason Greenwood in the squad and backed his move to Marseille
On Wednesday, Joey Barton signed on for the nomination, arguing that he “deserves a chance to move forward with his career.”
He also added that he believes England would have won Euro 2024 if Gareth Southgate had picked him.
