Mason Greenwood is set to sign for French club Marseille, prompting anger from the city’s mayor who has called for the deal to be scrapped.
Greenwood, 22, has not played for Manchester United since January 2022, when he was arrested and subsequently charged with one count each of attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and coercive control.
All charges against him, which related to the same woman, were dropped last year after key witnesses withdrew their co-operation, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
The player is now close to signing for Olympique Marseille, which has agreed a fee of 31.6m euros (£26.7m), Sky Sports News reported, despite criticism from fans of the Ligue 1 club and the city’s mayor Benoit Payan.
Greenwood, who spent last season on loan at Spanish club Getafe, has been given permission by United to have a medical and discuss personal terms with Marseille.
According to reports, Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi – who quit Brighton at the end of the season – said: “I don’t know his [Greenwood’s] past.
“I don’t know exactly what happened. Honestly, I don’t like interfering in players’ lives. I have nothing to say about this.
“The only thing I can tell you – it doesn’t matter who the player is. Once he signs for the club where I work, so here, they become like my children. I protect them against all the odds.”
Former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi now manages Marseille. Pic: AP
The Italian, who spent two years at Brighton, said Greenwood had not yet been signed “so there’s no point in talking” but added: “What I can say is that he is a champion, an international level player.”
On social media, fans have used a hashtag #GreenwoodNotWelcome to show their discomfort with the deal.
Marseille mayor Mr Payan told French radio station RMC: “I do not want my club to be covered in shame. I believe he cannot have a place in this team.”
He said he would ask Marseille president Pablo Longoria not to complete the deal.
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It has been reported Greenwood had a short meeting with senior United officials on Monday when he was told he needed to leave the club.
The striker scored 22 goals in 83 appearances for United and eight goals in his 33 games for Getafe.