Mason Greenwood’s career seemed to have fully reignited a matter on months ago, yet the England international now finds himself in the midst of a woeful run of form that threatens to cost Manchester United millions of pounds.
Greenwood has come in for much criticism in France in recent weeks, with a run of one goal in five games.
And the 23-year-old now faces a fresh barrage of criticism after Marseille were thumped 3-0 away to Monaco, putting their Champions League qualification in doubt.
Local newspaper La Provence was especially scathing of the player’s display, handing him a score of 1/10 for what he produced at Stade Louis II.
– La Provence
Greenwood’s display was described thus: “As gifted as he can be – when he wants to be, and that’s increasingly rare – the former Man Utd player exasperates with his lack of seriousness. You really want him to make more effort, especially when he’s having a bad day. He had two shots saved by Philipp Kohn. As for the rest? Nothing.”
L’Equipe was slightly kinder, with a 3/10 rating, but the content was the same.
“If he often listens to this criticism, he doesn’t seem bothered by it because his displays remain overshadowed by his nonchalance, which no flash of lightning has come to erase,” it states.
Why does Greenwood’s form matter to Man Utd?
Man Utd would have been hoping for a sizeable cash injection from any potential Greenwood sale that Marseille might have made.
A matter of weeks ago, Barcelona were linked with a move worth €70 million for the player – a fee likely too good for Marseille to turn down.
Crucially, Man Utd hold a clause that will see them receive 50% of any transfer profits that Marseille make from Greenwood. A €70m transfer to Barcelona would, therefore, see the Red Devils secure a whopping €22m.
Such a figure would make a sizeable difference for the Red Devils, who are fighting to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Greenwood’s recent slump cannot have impressed Barcelona, who surely will not be considering a summer move at present and certainly not at the figure previously quoted. Man Utd’s hope of a big payday are evaporating.
