The problem with going so public with your interest is that, if the deal fails to materialise as happened with a player who left Manchester United for £26 million last summer, it can lead to some rather probing questions.
It is no secret that, after missing out during the summer of 2023, the Serie A giants were determined to snap up the Carrington graduate at the second time of asking.
But, for Lazio, lightning would strike twice.
Mason Greenwood opted to take up the opportunity at Marseille instead once it became clear that Manchester United would not be welcoming the one-time England international back into the fold. Marseille snapped up the forward from under Lazio’s nose.
And, as Greenwood makes a flying start to life in France’s Ligue 1 with five goals in his first seven appearances, are there any regrets at the Stadio Olimpico that a deal Lazio had spent around 12 months pursuing had once again fallen apart?
Well, not according to Biancocelesti president Claudio Lotito.
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Lazio president reacts as Mason Greenwood leaves Manchester United for Marseille
“Greenwood is absolutely not a regret,” Lotito tells reporters. “Someone who does not accept coming to Lazio cannot be a regret.
“He is happy at Marseille. He made a choice and that is fine. We do not accept mercenaries. We only want those who choose Lazio.”
Lotito’s comments echo those of Lazio sporting director Marco Fabiani.
The sporting director confirms that the Rome-based giants tried to sign Greenwood before he arrived in Spain for a loan spell at Getafe in 2023, before dropping a £22 million bid on Man United’s table a year later.
“We wanted Greenwood last year. Then, there was a hitch with the player. You all know what Greenwood’s problem was,” Fabiani told the Lazio’s official website.
“An agent this year approached us with the idea of Greenwood in Italy. We gave him a deadline. From there, an auction was unleashed and I thought I could go up to a certain limit.
“We offered £22 million. We’re talking about 26 million euros. He preferred to take another path.”
Marseille boss Roberto de Zerbi defends Greenwood
Man United would eventually bring in £26 million from Marseille.
An outstanding piece of business from a purely financial perspective – Greenwood represented 100 per cent ‘pure profit’ in Financial Fair Play terms – his departure freed up the funds United needed to secure their number one striker target Joshua Zirkzee back in July.
Greenwood’s arrival in Marseille was, understandably, a source of much debate.
L’OM boss Roberto de Zerbi has been keen to defend his marquee summer signing from the glare of the media spotlight, insisting that his only focus was on what Greenwood could produce on the pitch.
“(I wanted Greenwood because of) what’s in his blood,” explained former Brighton and Hove Albion coach De Zerbi, who was contacted about the United job before Ineos opted to stick with Erik ten Hag. “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’.”
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