Mason Greenwood left Manchester United for Marseille last year and has been a regular starter for the French side, who are managed by Roberto De Zerbi, and he has discovered his best form this term
Former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi has told Mason Greenwood he could become world class, not long after slating the ex-Manchester United player’s ‘below-par work rate.’
The 24-year-old made headlines over the weekend by scoring four goals in Marseille’s 6-2 thrashing of Le Havre. He became the first player since Jean-Pierre Papin in 1991 to score four goals in a single league game.
Greenwood has been a regular at Marseille since his £26.6million move from Old Trafford. United sold the forward a year after charges of attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2023.
In terms of his football of late, De Zerbi was full of admiration for the academy graduate, who was granted Jamaican citizenship in the summer, thus making him eligible to represent Jamaica at international level. The Italian’s positive comments suggests Greenwood is doing everything he can to impress him.
De Zerbi said: “It’s true that Mason can do more, not just in terms of goals scored because in that area he doesn’t need to do better. He’s already a top player in front of goal, but he can become one of the best players in the world, because he has the ability.
“He can improve in helping the team when it needs it, when it’s necessary. But I want to protect Mason from criticism, he’s always scored a lot of goals and never missed a training session. But he still has room for improvement.”
Back in March, De Zerbi had pointed out areas of Greenwood’s game which needed improvement.
He said: “I wanted him here, I said it over and over again. He was the first player I contacted, even before I signed for OM,” he said.
“I had already spoken to his father. No one can have more respect for him than I do. 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.
“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.”
Greenwood’s stint at Old Trafford concluded last summer, nearly two years after the club suspended him.
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