Roberto De Zerbi arrived in Marseille ready to reconstruct the squad. However, no one expected it would start with Mason Greenwood joining the French giants. Despite the public pressure – even the Marseille mayor was against the transfer – the Italian didn’t succumb. Speaking to L’Equipe, he revealed that the 22-year-old winger and his father were, in fact, the first ones he contacted when he sat on Marseille’s bench.Ligue 1 preview: PSG rule but who will come in second?”Greenwood is the first player I called. I spoke with his father, who must be the same age as me. I warned him about the demands of this club, telling him: “Marseille in Marseille”. He replied: “I remember the historic Marseille which played in European Cup finals”. I said that when a player becomes my player, I am the first to pin him to the wall when he makes a mistake. But towards the outside, I will always defend him as I would defend my son,” De Zerbi disclosed.”Mason Greenwood was the first player I called”- Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi has told L’Equipe how much he wanted to sign the Man Utd outcast. pic.twitter.com/Sd3RhHohnm— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) August 15, 2024 The protests against Greenwood’s arrival didn’t have any effect, given that the transfer was eventually realized, and the Englishman took the famous No. 10. Talking to La Provence, he didn’t want to comment on the scandal built around him, claiming that he enjoys a new life with his wife and daughter.”Obviously, I am aware of this debate and I understand the question. I do not wish to enter into any controversy. I already had the opportunity to express myself on this subject last year, it is now behind us. With my partner, we rebuilt ourselves together, as a couple, we have just spent a year in Madrid. We have been together since we were 15, 16 years old, today we have a beautiful little girl who has just celebrated her first birthday. I am now looking towards the future and I am only focused on Olympique de Marseille and on our new life, together, in Marseille,” stated Greenwood.Arsenal and L’pool are City’s biggest threats – Chelsea, United and Spurs’ soul-searching continuesThe winger will have a chance to debut for Les Olympiens tomorrow when Marseille face Brest at Stade Francis-Le Ble (6 pm) in the first round of Ligue 1. That will ate the same time be the first official match for De Zerbi on the French side’s bench.LIGUE 1 – MATCHDAY 1Friday 21.45: (7.00) Le Havre (4.50) PSG (1.45)Saturday 18.00: (2.80) Brest (3.30) Olympique Marseille (2.55)20.00: (3.40) Reims (3.50) Lille (2.25)22.00: (1.53) Monaco (4.20) Saint-Etienne (6.25)Sunday 16.00: (3.10) Auxerre (3.20) Nice (2.40)18.00: (5.60) Angers (3.70) Lens (1.65)18.00: (2.10) Montpellier (3.50) Strasbourg (3.80)18.00: (2.15) Toulouse (3.35) Nantes (3.80)21.45: (2.40) Rennes (3.50) Olympique Lyon (3.10)***odds are subject to change***
