- Greenwood last played in the Premier League in January 2022 for Man United
- Charges against the forward were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Are Arsenal even close to achieving big things?
Two Premier League clubs are weighing up swooping for Marseille forward Mason Greenwood this summer – and he’s keen to return to England, reports say.
Greenwood, 23, has impressed during his debut campaign in France, having scored 19 goals to date across all competitions, but he is said to be pining for home.
The striker, whose last game in the Premier League came in January 2022, has put several teams on notice and they could move for him over the coming months.
That is according to The Telegraph, who claim interest in the top-flight is growing and that Greenwood would welcome a return to his native north of England.
Greenwood completed his £27million transfer to Ligue 1 giants Marseille last summer, ending his 17-year association with Manchester United after he was arrested before being charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Charges against the player were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light’.
Greenwood vehemently denied the allegations.
He spent a season on loan with Getafe in LaLiga before signing for Marseille under former Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
However, there is reportedly a difference of opinion among those close to Greenwood over whether he feels ready to return to the Premier League. He is said to have privately ruled out taking a ‘step down’ in England after leaving United.
But with sources indicating to The Telegraph that at least two top-flight outfits are considering a move, Greenwood’s stance could be put to the test in the summer.
The Sun also reported that Greenwood is ready to end his time away from England.
The outlet quoted a source who claimed that he and his partner Harriet Robson – with whom he shares two young daughters – initially ‘loved’ the anonymity abroad and that the move allowed the couple to ‘rebuild their lives’ in Madrid.
‘He loved the fact he could just play football and his life off the pitch was not the subject of such intense focus,’ the source told the publication.
However, after almost two years abroad, the ‘novelty’ is said to have worn off, with the ‘introverted’ Greenwood missing his family and friends back home.
It is claimed that Greenwood also believes the ‘vitriol’ aimed at him has ‘died down’ and people have ‘moved on’, allowing him to return to the North West.
De Zerbi has spoken glowingly of Greenwood this season and believes he ‘has the qualities’ to join the pantheon of all-time greats at Marseille.
‘Greenwood is a natural talent,’ said De Zerbi. ‘All the credit goes to his mother and father. And I’m here to help him become more complete.
‘When he needs a hug, a word of support, I gladly give it. And when I need to push him to give more, I have to do that too because that’s my job.’
‘I would especially like to help him be remembered, in this stadium and by these supporters, as one of the greatest players to have played here at the Velodrome.
‘There have been so many great players here, but I think Greenwood has the qualities to be remembered that way. And I’m trying to help him progress.’
