Mason Greenwood and his Marseille teammates were all handed 0/10 ratings following a devastating 3-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Nantes, a result that has all but extinguished their Champions League aspirations. The forward was branded 'scandalous' and compared to a circus performer by local newspaper La Provence in a scathing review of his performance.
Greenwood has enjoyed a productive season overall, netting 15 goals in Ligue 1. However, he has found the back of the net only once in his last nine appearances. Marseille now find themselves in seventh place, four points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots with just two games remaining. Compounding their misery, most of their rivals have a game in hand. The club was sitting in fourth place—the position they need to secure—when Roberto De Zerbi departed in February.
La Provence did not hold back in their assessment of Greenwood, writing: 'Scandalous from start to finish, he thought it was okay to walk after his countless turnovers, complain when his teammates didn't pass to him, and act like he was in a circus, attempting unnecessary gestures for his own personal amusement, while his club's financial future was at stake. In other circumstances, he might have deserved half a point for at least managing to tie his boots.'
The newspaper also noted: 'It's easier to understand why the enfant terrible of English football spent a brief spell on the bench at kickoff last Sunday. While players readily invoke the infamous "professional foul," Greenwood's behavior on Saturday was undeniably one.'
La Provence was equally critical of other former Premier League players in the Marseille squad, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Of Aubameyang, the former Arsenal striker, they penned: 'The Gabonese player completed more passes for Nantes than his teammates.' Hojbjerg, meanwhile, was described as having 'reverted to a kitten' after a previous display of bravado, producing 'a festival of passes that were sometimes poorly judged, sometimes overhit, sometimes forced.'
Marseille may be forced to sell players such as Greenwood if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season. Juventus, long-term admirers of the 24-year-old, are reportedly ready to make a move this summer, according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. If Marseille do sell, they would expect a fee of at least £43 million. A portion of that transfer fee would go to Manchester United, who have a sell-on clause following Greenwood's £30 million departure in July 2024.
Even if Marseille finish fourth, they would still need to navigate a play-off to reach the Champions League league phase. However, their hopes could be ended entirely if Lille and Lyon win their matches today, as that would put them beyond Marseille's reach.
