Marseille’s mayor opposes Mason Greenwood’s ‘unbearable’ move to the club and vows to tell them to ‘call off the major mistake’… insisting he doesn’t want his club ‘SHAMED by someone who hits his wife’

The mayor of Marseille has spoken out publicly against Mason Greenwood’s expected move to the Ligue 1 club, insisting he does not want his club to be “disgraced by someone who beats his wife”.

The Manchester United star, who has not played for the club since being arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of attempted rape, sexual assault and coercive behaviour, spent a season on loan at Getafe last season after the charges were dropped by the Public Prosecution Service and the Red Devils completed their own internal investigation.

After impressing at Getafe, where he scored 10 goals and won the player of the season award during his loan, Greenwood has attracted interest from Marseille following the arrival of their new manager Roberto De Zerbi.

The former Brighton manager has vowed to ‘publicly defend’ Greenwood if he signs for the club amid growing controversy surrounding his potential move.

But left-wing French politician and mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, opposed the signing, calling the accusations he reportedly made “unspeakable and unacceptable.”

Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour, but the charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service 13 months later.

Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan has publicly spoken out against Greenwood’s potential move to the club

He told RMC sports: ‘Greenwood’s behavior is indescribable, unacceptable. Hitting his wife… I saw images that shocked me deeply. To abuse his wife in this way is unbecoming of a man and he cannot have his place in this team.

“The values ​​of OM and Marseille are in fact anything but that. It is a disgrace. I will ask Pablo Longoria not to recruit Greenwood. I do not want my club to be covered with the shame of someone who beats his wife.

‘Olympique de Marseille is more than a club. It is a spirit, and there is no place for those who behave in this way, for those who commit these types of crimes and violations.

“It’s unbearable. I can’t imagine for a second that Pablo Longoria would make this big mistake.”

Greenwood, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, said in a statement when he left Manchester United last August: ‘I want to say first of all that I understand that people will judge me based on what they have seen and heard on social media and I know people will think the worst.

“I was raised to believe that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong. I did not do the things I was accused of and in February I was acquitted of all charges.

“However, I fully acknowledge that I have made mistakes in my relationship and I take responsibility for the situations that led to the social media post.”

After the internal investigation was completed, Manchester United’s statement read: ‘The club has completed its internal investigation into the allegations against Mason Greenwood.

‘Our process began in February 2023, after all charges against Mason were dropped. We have taken into account the wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim, along with the club’s values ​​and standards, and have attempted to gather as much information and context as possible.

‘We therefore had to proceed with due caution and caution in gathering evidence that was not in the public domain, including from people with direct knowledge of the case.

Roberto De Zerbi claimed he would try to protect Greenwood if he moved to Marseille

A shocked Payan has urged Marseille president Pablo Longoria (left) to call off the transfer

“Based on the evidence before us, we have concluded that the material posted online does not provide a complete picture and that Mason did not commit the crimes for which he was originally charged. That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he made mistakes for which he takes responsibility.

‘All involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties involved in him resuming his career at Manchester United. It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.’

Marseille are the hot favourites to sign Greenwood after a handful of European clubs showed interest in the forward. Marseille are believed to have made a bid of £27million, a significant sale price for the player.

When new head coach De Zerbi was asked if he would like to bring Greenwood to Stade Velodrome, he seemed to suggest that he would be interested in working with him.

“Greenwood hasn’t been recruited yet, so there’s not much to say. He’s a champion, a player at international level,” De Zerbi said.

“I don’t know what happened, I don’t focus on private lives. When a player signs for the club, I consider him as my child.

“Even if I can beat him up in secret, I will defend him in public. My players are like my sons.”

Marseille fans have started a protest movement to prevent Greenwood from signing a contract

The 22-year-old was named player of the season at Getafe after a fruitful loan spell in Spain

Meanwhile, fans of the southern French club have launched a public campaign – #GreenwoodNotWelcome – and are convinced that signing the player could cause “irreparable damage” to the club’s reputation.

In a statement to OM Forum, it said: ‘With negotiations over the arrival of Mason Greenwood reportedly becoming increasingly intense, it seems necessary to explain once again, before the damage becomes irreversible, why this transfer seems unthinkable given the values ​​that the club upholds and why for many of us it would mean a red line that would irreparably damage the passion we have for this club.’