Roberto de Zerbi reveals major warning to Mason Greenwood in first phone call before signing him from Man Utd
MASON GREENWOOD received a stern warning from Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi after his arrival from Manchester United.
United offloaded Greenwood, 22, this summer as he didn’t fit into manager Erik ten Hag’s plans for the coming season.
Mason Greenwood received a stern warning from Roberto De Zeri after his arrival from Manchester UnitedGetty
De Zerbi told Greenwood to take Marseille seriouslyGetty
The controversial forward moved to L’OM where he signed a five-year contract after a deal between the French giants and the Red Devils that could be worth over £30million.
De Zerbi, 45, was very keen on the ex-England international after an impressive loan stint at Getafe last season.
However, the Italian tactician issued a strict warning in their first phone call as he told him to take Marseille seriously.
The ex-Brighton boss claims Greenwood and his father have immense respect for the club and their European Cup finals.
De Zerbi told L’Equipe: “Greenwood is the first player I called. I spoke with his father, who must be the same age as me.
“I warned him about the demands of this club, telling him: ‘OM is OM’.
“He replied: ‘I remember the historic OM, which played in European Cup finals’.”
Greenwood’s arrival at Marseille received backlash from fans who started a campaign called #GreenwoodNotWelcome, imploring club chiefs to abandon their pursuit or risk doing “irreversible damage”.
The city’s mayor Benoit Payan was also outraged by the news, telling RMC: “I do not want my club to be covered in shame. It is not acceptable.”
Greenwood was suspended by United in January 2022 before being charged nine months later of attempted rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour towards a woman.
The player denied the claims, with all criminal charges eventually being dropped in February 2023.
De Zerbi, though, has backed his new signing following his arrival to the Velodrome.
The Italian said: “I said that when a player becomes my player, I am the first to pin him to the wall if he makes a mistake.
“But towards the outside, I will always defend him as I would defend my son.”
