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Manchester United have been slammed for profiting from Mason Greenwood’s sale and urged to donate their earnings to women’s charities.
Greenwood, 22, sealed a £30million move to the Ligue 1 club this week after undergoing a medical and signing his contract, ending his protracted Man United saga.
The forward spent last season on loan in LaLiga with Getafe and had not played for United since being arrested in January 2022.
Greenwood has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Mason Greenwood completed a £30million move from Man United to Marseille this week
Greenwood’s move to Marseille has drawn protests from fans and the mayor of Marseille
United have also been slammed for profiting from the sale of Greenwood and urged to donate the windfall to women’s charities. (Pictured – United part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right))
His move to Ligue 1 has drawn protests from fans, with the mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, warning against the switch and branding Greenwood ‘a disgrace’.
And now, domestic abuser campaigner David Challen added his voice to those slamming the move, insisting that the Red Devils should have engaged with women’s charities and urged the club to donate the profit made on their academy graduate.
‘Man Utd’s a massive global sports club that rakes in hundreds of millions a year,’ he told the i.
‘And that they didn’t release a player – which they could have done quite easily – and chose to retain him for their own financial needs, really prioritises the financial needs of the company above women.
‘It just doesn’t seem like the club cares, even on a basic level, about women and girls.
‘They didn’t even engage with women’s charities until the 11th hour, the fact they can’t donate to one of those charities or maybe a charity in the local area, it’s woeful, especially for a club of Man Utd’s size.
‘Services nationally are crippled and need funding, even in the local area. It’s staggering but unfortunately, it’s not surprising, because they had the chance to release him but they didn’t.’
Marseille mayor Benoit Payan publicly opposed Greenwood’s move, labelling him ‘a disgrace’
Greenwood scored 10 goals and added six assists in 34 games on loan with Getafe last season
Hundreds of supporters had gathered to greet Greenwood after he touched down in France on Wednesday evening but the Marseille fanbase is split- with both #GreenwoodNotWelcome and #GreenwoodWelcome trending on X.
Speaking after his Marseille unveiling, the forward – who scored 10 goals in 36 appearances for Getafe last season – insisted he has put the past behind him and is looking to the future with his partner and their daughter.
He told La Provence: ‘Obviously, I am aware of this debate and I understand the question. I do not wish to enter into any controversy. I already had the opportunity to express myself on this subject last year.
‘I am now looking towards the future and I am only focused on Olympique de Marseille and on our new life, together, in Marseille.’
The 22-year-old forward had not played for United since being arrested in January 2022
At his unveiling, Greenwood admitted his focus was only on Marseille ahead of the new season
Greenwood could play his first game in England in more than two years this summer as part of Marseille’s pre-season schedule.
His unofficial debut, meanwhile, may come as soon as Sunday when his new club play Nimes in their first friendly.
On August 3, Marseille will travel to Valley Parade in his hometown of Bradford to face Sunderland in their penultimate game.
Should Greenwood feature, it would be his first outing in a public match in England in two years, six months and 12 days.
Greenwood made 129 appearances in total for United, scoring 35 goals.
