In a rare interview from France, Mason Greenwood has opened up about his footballing inspirations and the mental techniques behind his impressive form for Olympique de Marseille, singling out Brazilian legend Ronaldo for particular praise.
Stellar Form and a 'Crazy' Idol
The former Manchester United forward, now 24, gave the interview ahead of Marseille's Ligue 1 clash with OGC Nice. His comments came just before he delivered a stunning performance, scoring twice in a resounding 5-1 away victory that propelled his team above Paris Saint-Germain to the top of the French league table.
When asked by Ligue 1 Plus about his best move on the pitch, Greenwood immediately identified 'the stepover'. The interviewer then mentioned the iconic Brazilian striker Ronaldo, to which Greenwood responded: "I watched a lot of him when I was younger, he used to do it on the goalkeepers a lot, which is kind of crazy."
The Secrets to His Success
Beyond his admiration for legends, Greenwood shared the meticulous preparation that contributes to his clinical finishing. He detailed a powerful visualisation technique he employs to ensure his actions on the pitch become second nature.
"The night before a game, I'm in bed and you're just visualising things in your head, moments on the pitch," Greenwood explained. "And when I go out to warm up on the pitch, I like to visualise, maybe if I'm in certain situations I'll do this or do that, so when it comes to it it's second nature really, I can just do it straight away."
He also highlighted the significant advantage of being naturally two-footed, a trait that constantly keeps defenders guessing. "When you've got both feet, the defender sometimes likes to show you one way on to your weaker side or on to another side, which I like, because if he's showing me or wants to push me, I'll take the opportunity because I can shoot on the right side. Or if he wants to show me to the left, I can take the opportunity on the left."
Impressing on the French Riviera
Greenwood's move from Manchester United to Marseille was finalised in the summer of 2024, with the English club receiving £26.7million and securing a lucrative 50% sell-on clause for any future transfer fee.
His recent brace against Nice brings his season tally to 10 goals, making him the current frontrunner for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, ahead of Strasbourg's Joaquin Panichelli. With the January and summer transfer windows on the horizon, his consistent and stellar performances are sure to be attracting attention from clubs across Europe.
