- Mason Greenwood has been Marseille’s top scorer across all competitions
- De Zerbi has benched him for the last two matches, including derby against PSG
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Eddie Howe is the ‘greatest coach of his generation’
Mason Greenwood could leave Marseille at the end of the season, despite his impressive debut campaign in France, according to a report.
The 23-year-old striker is still in the hunt for the Ligue 1 golden boot after netting 15 goals in 28 games for the French giants, however, recent criticism from his manager Roberto De Zerbi has cast his future into doubt.
After being a guaranteed starter for much of the season, Greenwood has had to make do with appearances from the bench for clashes against Lens and Paris Saint-Germain.
The reason for the recent exile was seemingly revealed by De Zerbi earlier this month when he intimated the former Manchester United youngster is falling short of his work rate expectations.
‘No one can have more respect for him (Greenwood) than I do,’ said De Zerbi. ‘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.
Mason Greenwood could be headed for the Marseille exit this summer after being dropped for their last two league matches
Only PSG forward Ousmane Dembele has bettered Greenwood’s 15 goals in Ligue 1 this season
Roberto De Zerbi has called the striker’s work rate into question and reports have suggested he and his team have grown tired of the former Man United youngster
‘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.’
According to RMC Sport journalist Florent Germain via BFM Marseille, Greenwood could be headed for the Marseille exit door if he does not heed the advice of his manager.
‘He is a player that can make a big difference but honestly, if he doesn’t react, questions will be asked about a departure for Greenwood this summer,’ said Germain.
‘If he isn’t able to understand that his manager and his directors fought against a risk – more than a sporting risk – in bringing him, to give him a visibility, because OM isn’t Getafe.’
Recent reports have suggested that De Zerbi and the management at Marseille are growing tired of a perceived ‘nonchalance’, ‘attitude’ and ‘lack of effort’, according to RMC Sport.
The report claims that there is considered to be a ‘huge gap between his potential and his contribution’ to the team, considering Marseille’s general trend of dominating games.
After emerging as one of Man United’s brightest young talents, he left the club officially last summer after he was arrested in January 2022 before being charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Charges against Greenwood were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light’.
Greenwood reignited his career on loan at Spanish outfit Getafe last season, where he bagged 10 goals and six assists. He has since formally applied to switch his international allegiance from England, for whom he made one outing, to Steve McClaren’s Jamaica.
