Former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood had to settle for a place on the bench for Marseille after being criticised by head coach Roberto De Zerbi heading into the game with Lens
Mason Greenwood was dropped by Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi for the French side’s clash against Lens.
The former Manchester United forward, who joined the Ligue 1 team in the summer, left Old Trafford after spending a year on loan at Getafe. The 23-year-old saw United decide the academy product had no future at the club, despite charges of attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm being dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023.
Greenwood hit the ground running with Les Minots however, and has scored 16 goals in 27 appearances this season. That was not enough to spare his Italian coach from dropping him to the bench however, following some pointed criticism ahead of the visit of Lens.
De Zerbi revealed he’d contacted Greenwood even before joining Marseille, but criticised the striker’s work-rate. The ex-Brighton boss had been frustrated by his charge’s efforts, despite five goals in eight games heading into the match.
“I wanted him here, I said it over and over again,” De Zerbi said, reflecting on Greenwood’s arrival last summer. “He was the first player I contacted, even before I signed for OM. I had already spoken to his father. No one can have more respect for him than I do.
“But that doesn’t change anything: I expect more from him. He has to do more, because what he is currently showing is not enough.
“If he wants to achieve his ambition of becoming a champion, he has to be more consistent, sacrifice more and be more determined.
“Otherwise, we as a team always fall back into the same pattern: a very good match, then a defeat at Auxerre, then a victory against Nantes… It’s too irregular, it’s like waves. And that’s something I don’t like.”
Greenwood was forced to watch from the bench until half-time at the Velodrome, as De Zerbi looked for an option to break the deadlock. The home side were unable to do so however and fell to a 1-0 defeat thanks to a 94th-minute effort from Neil El Aynaoui.
Earlier in the week it was confirmed Greenwood had applied to switch his international allegiance to Jamaica from England. The player has one cap for the Three Lions but has informed the Football Association and FIFA about wanting to represent Steve McClaren’s team.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “So my understanding, and I’d have to double check my understanding, is he’s asked to switch. That’s happened formally, so he wouldn’t be able to [be called upon] because you can only switch once.
“I know people asked Gareth about him and Gareth was up front in that he hadn’t been in his thinking, because he hadn’t been performing at that level, so I’m not aware of any communication we had with him.
“I don’t think there was ever a request or anything like that. It just wasn’t one we got to, so it’s a personal decision by him.”
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