Multiple European clubs across the continent’s elite leagues, as well as teams in Turkey, have expressed interest in acquiring Mason Greenwood, formerly of Manchester United.
Manchester United chose to sever ties with Greenwood following a comprehensive six-month internal probe into the forward. In 2022, Greenwood was embroiled in a legal ordeal involving allegations of attempted rape, domestic violence, and controlling behaviour. These were in connection to troubling images and audio content that surfaced on social media.
The legal proceedings, however, came to an end in February 2023 after the Crown Prosecution concluded that there was insufficient evidence for a realistic conviction. This decision came after key witnesses withdrew and new evidence emerged.
Nonetheless, due to considerable backlash from the club’s fan base, Manchester United decided that a return for Greenwood to Old Trafford was untenable.
With the transfer deadline fast approaching—slated to close for most European teams at 11 pm UK time today—United are actively seeking to facilitate Greenwood’s move to a new club. Reports from Italy suggest that Lazio were given the option to sign the striker, who last appeared in a competitive match in January 2022. Lazio’s coach, Maurizio Sarri, now faces the dilemma of whether to include Greenwood in his team plans.
According to well-placed sources, football clubs from Italy, Germany, and Spain have engaged Manchester United in talks to potentially sign Greenwood. One source noted, “A number of clubs have looked really hard but ultimately it’s hard for one club to make the jump.”
Clubs looking to acquire Greenwood must also grapple with the potential for fan and women’s group protests. The Saudi Pro League has indicated that they would avoid signing Greenwood, citing concerns over the league’s image.
Greenwood faces a ticking clock if he wishes to remain in one of Europe’s top five leagues, as the transfer window will close by the end of Friday. Failing that, a move to the Turkish Super Lig could still be on the cards as their window remains open until September 15. Meanwhile, the transfer windows for the Saudi Pro League and the Greek Super League will close on September 20 and September 11, respectively.
