Roberto De Zerbi claims Marseille ahead Mason Greenwood has paid a ‘very excessive worth’ for the home abuse allegations that led to him leaving the Premier League.
The 24-year-old, who signed for the Ligue 1 membership from Manchester United final 12 months, was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the costs the next 12 months, citing the withdrawal of key witnesses and new materials that got here to gentle.
Greenwood spent a season on mortgage at Getafe in Spain earlier than his £28million transfer to Marseille, the place he scored 22 objectives final season and has 11 from 16 already this time period.
He’ll come up in opposition to a Premier League staff for the primary time when Newcastle arrive within the Champions League on Tuesday night time, and De Zerbi says he’s ‘saddened’ by how Greenwood has been portrayed in England.
‘He is a great man, he paid a heavy worth for what occurred, a really heavy worth,’ stated the previous Brighton boss. ‘He has discovered the precise surroundings for him. We’ve got lent him a hand and given him affection. He is a bit of bit introverted however I do know him and his household. It saddens me what occurred in his life, as a result of I do know a very completely different individual than the one who was described in England.’
Staff-mate Angel Gomes additionally spoke about Greenwood right here on the Stade Velodrome, and the England midfielder sees the identical as De Zerbi.
Roberto De Zerbi believes Marseille ahead Mason Greenwood has paid a ‘very excessive worth’ for the home abuse allegations that led to him leaving the Premier League
Greenwood spent a season on mortgage at Getafe in Spain earlier than his £28million transfer to Marseille, the place he scored 22 objectives final season and has 11 from 16 already this time period
‘I feel it is right down to the surroundings that we now have given him,’ stated Gomes. ‘He is liked by everybody. He is such a very nice man who works very laborious.
‘I do know him greatest as a result of I’ve recognized him since I used to be younger. However for those who have been to ask any of the gamers or workers, he retains himself to himself and when he is on the pitch he enjoys himself.
‘When it is like that, as a team-mate, it is simpler. However as a good friend it is good and it makes me comfortable to see.’
Greenwood has one England cap and discuss has resurfaced in some quarters of a return.
‘I’ve not spoken to Mason about what he desires to do (sooner or later),’ stated Gomes. ‘We discuss Name of Obligation, FIFA and soccer, we do not discuss his objectives and what he desires to do.’
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is nicely conscious of the risk Greenwood carries, and stated: ‘He is an excellent attacker from the vast proper however they use him in a intelligent means. It you desire a combiner, with the gamers round him, he’s that. His most harmful work is when he drifts infield.
‘However he isn’t only a scorer, he is a creator and he is obtained a extremely good relationship with the gamers round him. We should defend nicely down that aspect of the pitch.’
