Of course, the issue with former Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood has never been one of talent.
And despite the flying start he has made to life at Marseille, the fact remains that the one-time England international will always be a source of incessant debate and division amongst a proud and passionate fanbase.
Marseille coach Roberto de Zerbi – describing Manchester United academy graduate Mason Greenwood as a ‘world-class’ talent – is keen to distance himself from the understandable controversy that surrounded the forward’s £26 million arrival back in July.
Club president Pablo Longoria, meanwhile, hit back this week after the mayor of Marseille called out the ‘shame’ of the signing, per BBC Sport.
“We took the decision internally,” says Longoria, via the BBC. “OK, there was some opposition. That was objective. But, at the same time, that gave us the power to maybe not investigate, because I am not a judge, but to use all the information to make the best decision, which I think we did.”
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Mason Greenwood flying after Manchester United exit
Greenwood’s performances on the pitch, from a purely sporting sense, certainly justify his £26 million price-tag.
After building his match fitness and his confidence during a loan spell at Getafe, the Carrington graduate has already struck five times in just three Ligue 1 outings.
And Marseille legend Basile Boli has been blown away by a player stepping up to the goalscoring mantle following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the Middle East.
“I’m very happy,” Boli, a Champions League winner in 1993, tells RMC Sport. “We’re doing well. I’m very happy with the start of the season.
“And then we have a little genius on the right wing. Let the flame continue like this, he’s going to do us good during the season.”
Former Brighton and Hove Albion boss De Zerbi – contacted about the United job before Ineos opted to keep the faith with Erik ten Hag – confirms that Greenwood was the first player he contacted after taking over at the Stade Velodrome.
Longoria concurs with De Zerbi’s version of events.
Roberto de Zerbi delighted with striker’s impact
“In our very first conversation with the coach, we mentioned Mason’s name,” he explains. “The coach knew Mason from the past. And it was a very quick conversation at the start between all of us because we believe in the talent of Mason.
“There were a lot of conversations between all of us in the weeks leading up to his move. He is behaving fantastically with us and we are very happy to have him playing in our team.”
With two wins and a draw from their first three games, Marseille are second in the table as things stand behind, guess who, Paris Saint-Germain.
Only Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland has scored more than Greenwood in Europe’s top-five leagues so far this term.
“(I wanted Greenwood because of) what’s in his blood,” De Zerbi told L’Equipe a month ago. “Character. Willpower. Mason Greenwood was the first player I called.”
“I spoke with his father, who must be the same age as me. I warned him about the demands of the club, telling him; ‘OM is OM’. He replied; ‘I remember the historic Marseille, which played in the European Cup finals’.
“On the other hand, when we saw a player was uncertain, not totally won over by the idea of joining us, we immediately went down another path.”
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