Mason Greenwood Man Utd transfer question in French police report after boardroom clash

Marseille had to endure an avalanche of criticism when they signed Mason Greenwood, but there was also contention within the club, after they bought him from Manchester United

A police report was lodged following a dispute among Marseille executives over the decision to sign Mason Greenwood from Manchester United. Greenwood, 24, parted ways with United by mutual agreement in the summer of 2023.

He left Old Trafford approximately seven months after charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Marseille acquired him from the Reds for roughly £26.7m in July 2024, a move that sparked controversy in France.

The debate surrounding his arrival wasn't confined to the broader football community, as there was opposition in the Marseille boardroom, who were displeased about the idea of signing him, according to French reports. It's been claimed a disagreement over Greenwood resulted in a police report being filed.

READ MORE : Senne Lammens reveals Man United ritual he learned from ex-Liverpool starREAD MORE : Fabian Hurzeler reveals what he texted Mikel Arteta after fiery row over Arsenal tactics

La Provence has claimed that a club senior executive lodged a police report after sporting director Mehdi Benatia clashed with Cecilia Barontini, a four-year veteran of the Stade Velodrome's human resources team, over Greenwood's signing. Club president Pablo Longoria is believed to have tasked Barontini with handling several administrative matters alongside Alban Juster, but she was "opposed" to the concept of purchasing Greenwood, reports the Manchester Evening News.

She also voiced her opposition to Marseille's pursuit of Algeria international defender Youcef Atal, who had received an eight-month suspended prison sentence and a €45,000 fine for sharing an anti-Semitic video after attacks were launched on the Gaza Strip shortly after October 7, 2023.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE!Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

All of these disagreements reportedly came to a head in a "heated confrontation" in Longoria's office, which resulted in an incident report being drawn up by local police forces. Ultimately, the French giants opted to sign Greenwood, who has turned out 73 times for the Ligue 1 outfit.

Longoria recently outlined his decision making surrounding Greenwood, when he recognised there was a chance to sign the former United academy graduate. He curiously revealed he consulted his mother, before he reached his conclusion.

He recently told The Telegraph: "For me, it's correct to speak openly about it. Creating taboos in life is never positive. For us it was a massive market opportunity from a sporting perspective where we analysed, very carefully, what really happened.

"In that case, having done due diligence and having all the information – and this is the first time I speak about this – with all the information I called my mother. And I said 'what do you think, knowing all the situation?'".

"And my mother, who used to work in the prison system in Spain, having a very innovative prison system model in Spain – she was recognised with the medal of the state. So I ask her, having all this information, 'what would you do in my position?' And she said to me 'do it'. With all the information.

"It was important because I wanted someone who doesn't have the incentive of the sport, because the talent is there, that her only incentive is the good of her son. As a man, not as a president. And, for me, it was very important that she said to me, knowing all of this, 'do it'."

Longoria continued: "I know that there is criticism. I know that the situation, it's so many times, potentially reputational [damage].

"But, I repeat, if you think that you are taking the right decision, with the right level of information, and from a human perspective as well, because Mason, he's a good kid, seriously. From that time, I sleep at night."

Click here to read article