Mason Greenwood, the Manchester United forward, recently had “constructive discussions” with senior football figures at the club regarding his potential exit from Old Trafford. It was reported that Greenwood did not participate in the first day of United’s pre-season training and there are no immediate plans for him to join the team. The 22-year-old visited the training complex to meet with the club’s football leadership team, including new sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, to discuss finding him a new club.
This visit marked Greenwood’s first time at Carrington since serious allegations were made against him in January 2020. After the allegations surfaced, the club confirmed that Greenwood would not return to training or playing until further notice. However, charges were later dropped, and Greenwood remained unavailable for selection. The club initially planned to include Greenwood in Erik ten Hag’s squad, but the decision was reversed, and it was announced in August that it had been “mutually agreed” for Greenwood to continue his career elsewhere.
Despite no official statements from United since then, it was reported in May that the club preferred Greenwood to secure a permanent move. Last season, Greenwood spent time on loan at La Liga side Getafe. Currently, there is strong interest in him from Italian side Lazio and French club Marseille, now managed by former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi. Although United has not commented on reports of a formal bid from Marseille, talks are said to be at an advanced stage.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrrell Malacia were not shown in club pictures on the first day of training. Sancho had a dispute with manager Erik ten Hag, resulting in a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund last season. Malacia missed the entire previous season due to injury, while Rashford was left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad due to his poor form. However, Rashford was present at Carrington on Monday and began physical work two weeks early in an effort to regain his form. Despite rumors of a potential sale, it is understood that Rashford remains committed to Manchester United.
Overall, Mason Greenwood’s discussions with senior figures at Manchester United indicate that his future at the club is uncertain. While talks are ongoing regarding finding him a new club, the reported interest from Lazio and Marseille suggests that there are potential options for his next move. In contrast, Marcus Rashford’s presence at training and his determination to regain form demonstrate his commitment to United. As the pre-season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these situations develop and whether any official announcements regarding transfers or player commitments will be made by the club.