Mason Greenwood enjoys a positive first season with the French side Marseille since he became a member of Manchester United, but there have been rumors about a gap in the camp in the midst of a rotten form
Former Tottenham star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has not refused to play next to Mason Greenwood, according to club chef Mehdi Benatia. The former striker of Manchester United has enjoyed a positive first season on the field in the Stade Veldorome since he moved to France.
Greenwood, 23, has 17 goals in all competitions, but it was recently suggested that not everyone was far behind the scenes on the French side. It was suggested that former Spurs midfielder Hojbjerg and teammate Adrien Rabiot to the club's football director, Benatia, had gone to suggest that both Greenwood and Brazilian winger Luis Henrique should be removed from the team.
But the Moroccan has rejected those claims with an angry response. “Can you imagine it?” Benatia told La Provence. “He didn't come to see me. And what is more, do you think I need a player to tell me that?
“Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is one of the most professional in the dressing room, a man who wants to unite alone and goes along with everyone, such as Rabiot.
“Today Adri dies inside, he only wants one thing: to reach the Champions League. These two are really two examples, and at no time they have come to dismiss Luis Henrique or Greenwood. The people who say that it doesn't want the best for.”
Although Benatia confirms that the Hojbjerg claims are not true, there seem to be some problems at Marseille. The French giants have lost five of their last seven games and are now under the serious threat to fall out of the Champions League places.
In the meantime, Greenwood has scored only one goal in his last five league performances, while he was also dropped from the starting line-up. But Marseille Baas Roberto de Zerbi suggested last month that Greenwood simply adapted to his demands on the club and supported Greenwood to become a legendary player for the French side.
“Greenwood is a natural talent,” he said. “All honor goes to his mother and father. And I am here to help him become more complete. When he needs a hug, a word of support, I would like to give it. And if I have to push him to give more, I have to do that because that is my job.”
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“I would especially like to help him remember, in this stadium and by these supporters, as one of the greatest players who played here in the Velodrome,” he added.
“There have been so many great players here, but I think Greenwood has the qualities to be remembered that way. And I try to help him make progress.”