Joey Barton has backed Mason Greenwood’s impending move to Marseille after fans reacted angrily to the links, insisting England could have won Euro 2024 if they had fielded the striker.
Marseille have reached an agreement in principle to sign Greenwood from Manchester United for £27million plus £3.2million in add-ons.
The 22-year-old attacker was charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour, but the charges and the case were dropped in February 2023 when key witnesses recanted. Greenwood has denied any wrongdoing.
Furious Marseille fans launched the #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign after the initial rumours, but Barton, who played for the Ligue 1 club in 2012-13, is convinced he ‘deserves a chance’.
“That’s a great signing. This kid deserves a chance to continue his career,” Barton wrote on X.
Joey Barton claimed England would have won Euro 2024 with Mason Greenwood in the team – and backed his impending move to Marseille
Marseille have reached an agreement in principle to sign Greenwood from Man United
Greenwood spent the 2023-24 season on loan at La Liga club Getafe, scoring 10 goals
‘We all make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. England would have won the Euros with this boy in the team.
‘He is as good a player as any in that Euros squad. His behaviour and the public aftermath affected his performances enormously, but he went to an average team in Spain and got back on track!’
The Three Lions lost the 2024 European Championship final to Spian on Sunday and manager Gareth Southgate has stepped down after eight years.
Greenwood must still pass a medical and sign all the necessary paperwork to complete the transfer to Marseille. He spent last season on loan at LaLiga club Getafe, where he scored 10 goals.
Marseille mayor Benoit Payan has opposed the move and said he will press club president Pablo Longoria to call off the deal.
Greenwood returned to Carrington on Monday to speak to United bosses about his departure, having not played for the Red Devils since January 2022, when the allegations emerged.
Charges against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after key witnesses recanted, but the club continued its own internal investigation into a series of graphic images and audio recordings. In August 2023, it was announced that he would leave by mutual consent.
Barton added: ‘I hope Mason and his family find peace and prosperity in the south of France. That they can get on with their young lives. And hopefully he gets the chance to make amends for his mistakes.
Barton, 41, spent a season on loan at Marseille from QPR during the 2012-13 season
However, Marseille fans launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign on social media
Greenwood’s attempted rape and assault charges were dropped last year
Fans took to social media to ask the French club not to ‘betray its values’ by signing Greenwood
“I know the Marseille fans love their club. This kid could be as good a player as any Englishman who has ever worn your shirt. With the support you love, he will set Ligue 1 on fire. This kid is good. Trust me. If you support him, OM will take over.
‘Great coach in Roberto De Zerbi. Big chestnuts to get Greenwood.’
Barton, 41, became a controversial figure online several months ago after a series of lengthy tirades against women working in football.
He compared commentators Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward to serial killers Fred and Rose West. He also called it “dangerous” for women to work in men’s clubs because they “have full-fledged affairs and cost people their marriages.” He also argued that Alex Scott “shouldn’t comment on the male game,” among other tirades.
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had left the door open for a return for Greenwood after taking a 25 per cent stake in the club in December last year.
“It’s a new decision,” he said, despite the club previously ruling out a return.
“I can talk about the principle. I’m not going to talk about Mason. I’m familiar with it. The principle is the most important thing. We’ll have other problems in the future.
Greenwood could team up with former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, who is now at Marseille
Greenwood has not played for Manchester United since 2022, when the allegations emerged
‘You are dealing with young people who have not always grown up in the best circumstances, who have a lot of money and do not always receive the guidance they should receive.
“What we need to do when we have these kinds of problems is to understand the real effects, not the hype. Then we need to make an honest decision in light of the values of the club. That’s what we need to do and that’s how we deal with it.”