A police report was officially lodged following a significant internal dispute among Olympique de Marseille executives concerning the decision to acquire Mason Greenwood from Manchester United. The French club faced substantial public criticism for the signing, but internal contention within the boardroom proved equally intense, ultimately requiring police documentation.
Background of the Controversial Transfer
Mason Greenwood, now 24 years old, departed Manchester United by mutual agreement in the summer of 2023. This exit came approximately seven months after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against him for attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. In July 2024, Marseille secured his services from the Premier League giants for a fee reported to be around £26.7 million, a move that ignited widespread controversy across French football and beyond.
Internal Opposition and Police Involvement
The debate surrounding Greenwood's arrival was not limited to external critics; it sparked fierce opposition within Marseille's own boardroom. According to French media reports, senior club officials were deeply displeased with the prospect of signing the forward. This internal discord escalated to the point where a formal police report was filed following a heated confrontation.
La Provence newspaper has detailed that the incident involved sporting director Mehdi Benatia clashing with Cecilia Barontini, a veteran member of the Stade Velodrome's human resources team with four years of service. Club president Pablo Longoria had reportedly assigned Barontini to handle various administrative matters alongside Alban Juster, but she expressed strong opposition to the concept of purchasing Greenwood.
Barontini also voiced objections to Marseille's pursuit of Algerian international defender Youcef Atal, who had received an eight-month suspended prison sentence and a €45,000 fine for sharing an anti-Semitic video following attacks on the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023.
The Confrontation and Aftermath
All these disagreements reportedly culminated in a "heated confrontation" within President Longoria's office, prompting local police forces to create an official incident report. Despite the internal turmoil and external criticism, the French giants ultimately proceeded with the signing of Greenwood, who has since made 73 appearances for the Ligue 1 club.
Longoria's Personal Decision-Making Process
President Pablo Longoria recently provided insight into his decision-making process regarding Greenwood, acknowledging the unique opportunity to sign the former Manchester United academy graduate. In a revealing interview with The Telegraph, Longoria disclosed that he consulted his mother before reaching his final conclusion.
"For me, it's correct to speak openly about it. Creating taboos in life is never positive," Longoria stated. "For us it was a massive market opportunity from a sporting perspective where we analysed, very carefully, what really happened."
He continued: "In that case, having done due diligence and having all the information – and this is the first time I speak about this – with all the information I called my mother. And I said 'what do you think, knowing all the situation?'"
Longoria explained his mother's background working in Spain's prison system, where she was recognized with a state medal for her innovative contributions. "So I ask her, having all this information, 'what would you do in my position?' And she said to me 'do it'. With all the information."
The Marseille president emphasized the importance of this consultation: "It was important because I wanted someone who doesn't have the incentive of the sport, because the talent is there, that her only incentive is the good of her son. As a man, not as a president. And, for me, it was very important that she said to me, knowing all of this, 'do it'."
Addressing Criticism and Personal Conviction
Longoria acknowledged the significant criticism surrounding the decision: "I know that there is criticism. I know that the situation, it's so many times, potentially reputational [damage]. But, I repeat, if you think that you are taking the right decision, with the right level of information, and from a human perspective as well, because Mason, he's a good kid, seriously. From that time, I sleep at night."
The internal police report filed over the boardroom dispute highlights the depth of division within Marseille's leadership regarding the controversial signing. While Greenwood has established himself as a regular player for the French club, the circumstances surrounding his acquisition continue to generate discussion about ethics, reputation, and decision-making in professional football.
