Atletico Madrid's Argentine coach Diego Simeone is pictured before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)Atletico Madrid's Argentine coach Diego Simeone is pictured before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Atletico Madrid's Argentine coach Diego Simeone is pictured before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Former Manchester United player Mason Greenwood is reportedly the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid
La Liga title hopefuls Atletico Madrid are the latest European heavyweight to express an interest in former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, according to reports in Spain.
Fichajes claim Diego Simeone’s side are preparing a significant offer to secure the services of the 23-year-old forward who joined Marseille last summer as he made a permanent exit from United. Greenwood rose to prominence at the end of the 2018/19 season when he was introduced into the Red Devils first team squad in the final minutes of a 3-1 victory over PSG in the Champions League. Four days later he made his Premier League debut in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, making him one of the club’s youngest ever appearance makers.
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The Bradford-born forward went on to establish himself as a regular fixture in the first team with 35 goals and 10 assists in 109 appearances across all competitions while also making his England debut in 2020.
But Greenwood’s spell in the United first team came to an end in the early months of Erik ten Hag’s time in the dugout when he was arrested and later charged with attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour after an investigation started in January 2022. However, the charges were dropped in February 2023. Greenwood always denied the charges against him. United also carried out their own internal investigation and concluded in August 2023: “Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged.”
It added: “All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing 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.”
Greenwood scored 10 goals in 36 appearances in a loan spell at Getafe last season before completing a £26.6m move to Marseille.
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Mason Greenwood’s shines at Marseille
Greenwood is enjoying his best season to date at Marseille and has already scored a staggering 16 goals in 26 matches across all competitions with 15 of those coming in Ligue 1 for Roberto de Zerbi’s side, making him the second highest scoring player in the division.
The Les Olympiens sit second in Ligue 1, leaving them firmly on course for their highest league finish since the 2021/22 season while marking a huge improvement from their lacklustre eighth place finish last season.
Greenwood is not thought to be under consideration for an England call-up and according to the Jamaican Gleaner is considering switching allegiances to Jamaica in a move which would see him link up with ex-United assistant coach Steve McClaren.
How much Man Utd would actually make if Greenwood moves this summer
Manchester World understands United will be entitled to 50 per cent of the profits of any future sale of Greenwood as part of his £26.6 million transfer to Marseille.
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Fichajes reports Atletico Madrid are considering an opening offer of around £50m to secure the player’s services, which means if that was accepted United would receive half of the £23.4m profit Marseille would make which equates to around £11.7m. However, the Red Devils would not be able to keep it all as Getafe included a clause that entitles them to 20 per cent of all of United’s potential future earnings on Greenwood. Meaning United would end up with around £9.36m.
This windfall of course would come as a huge boost to United’s transfer kitty this summer as Ruben Amorim is tasked with rejuvenating the Red Devils squad on a tight budget due to the added constraints of profit and sustainability which the team are already understood to be fairly close to breaching.
However, Atletico are not the only European heavyweight to express an interest in Greenwood and earlier reports from Fichajes have also claimed that French champions Paris Saint Germain could put forth a bid of their own which is thought to be in the region of £62m.If an offer in that region was to be accepted, Marseille would make £35.4m profit on the forward, leaving United entitled to a £14.16m windfall after Getafe’s payment is factored in.
The forward penned a five-year deal at Marseille when he joined them last summer, giving the French club a strong hand when it comes to any potential transfer negotiations. However, it is not clear at this stage whether Greenwood would even be open to leaving the Stade Velodrome after his stellar start to life in the south of France.
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In an interview with French TV channel Telefoot back in late January, Greenwood was asked about his future. He said: "Stay here [at Marseille] for many years? Of course. It's something I'd like to do, I want to win trophies here and play in the Champions League. It's a big ambition to be here, so yes. I had goosebumps during my first match at the Velodrome. It's exceptional.”
In other news, Ruben Amorim drops Manchester United striker hint vs Arsenal as Chido Obi returns.