Involved in all five of OM’s goals against Brest, Mason Greenwood makes a remarkable debut after a controversial summer

Author of a double, the English striker put in an XXL performance on Saturday.

His first was inevitably scrutinized. Having arrived this summer at Olympique de Marseille from Manchester United, Mason Greenwood was decisive for the resumption of the championship, Saturday August 17, by being involved in each of the five goals of his new team during its demonstration in Brest (5-1).

The English striker only needed 170 seconds to open his Ligue 1 account, scoring on a run from the Marseille right flank (3rd) before scoring twice from the penalty spot (31st), but he was above all the embodiment of the revival started by Roberto De Zerbi.

The new Italian coach asked for time on Friday in front of the press to “finish building the identity” from this Marseille new look. If the precepts of his traditional 4-2-3-1 have not yet all been visible in the game, his various recruits (Geronimo Rulli, Derek Cornelius, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Elye Wahi) have quickly got into tune, helped by the involvement of Mason Greenwood.

“He did Mason, you don’t have to try to understand. He’s a hard-hitting player, a classy player who likes to hurt the defense and be efficient. The whole team played a very good game, but it’s sure that having players like that in the team helps us.”rejoiced Quentin Merlin in the mixed zone after the match.

By positioning himself as a real catalyst on the visitors’ lightning counter-attacks, the 22-year-old international blew up the Breton defense, which had shown itself to its advantage to secure a podium finish last season. It was also on three such overflows that the winger brought about the actions that allowed Luis Henrique to also score two goals (26th, 48th), and to cause the penalty for 5-1 for Elye Wahi (69th).

Enough to make, at least for a while, forget the memories of a difficult last year, which ended in an anonymous 8th place without a European Cup. But also to go in the direction of the player who asked to “look ahead” upon his arrival at the club. Because his signing on July 19th had provoked the ire of some fans, in the wake of the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, because of his troubled past. In January 2022, Mason Greenwood was accused of domestic violence and attempted rape by his partner, with photos and voice messages to support his claim. If the proceedings had subsequently been dropped in February 2023 following the “withdrawal of key witnesses”, His training club, Manchester United, had decided to definitively discard him.

“He is a champion, a world-class player. I am not in the habit of interfering in the private lives of players. If he comes, you should know that I treat all my players like my sons. I can reprimand them in private, but I will defend them publicly.”Roberto De Zerbi had soberly commented, when the name of the Briton – to his advantage on the field during his loan to Getafe in Spain last season – was associated with the Olympian club.

Before specifying in the columns of The Team Wednesday : “I didn’t defend him. I said that when a player becomes my player, I’m the first to pin him to the wall if he makes a mistake. But to the outside, I will always defend him as I would defend my son.” According to him, “all human information” on the ex-Mancunian were taken by Marseille president, Pablo Longoria, before bringing him in.

“I’m glad he scored, so he’ll be less of a target for controversy.”

Roberto De Zerbi on Mason Greenwood

at a press conference after Brest-OM

Pampered by the 45-year-old tactician, Mason Greenwood continued his good preparation this Saturday (two goals in three games). It remains to be seen what reception the Vélodrome will reserve for him against Reims next weekend. In a Ligue 1 devoid of stars, he could become, in spite of himself, one of the big headliners if he were to guide OM towards its Champions League objective, or even allow it to tease PSG in the race for the title.