Mason Greenwood, still treated as a pariah in England despite the charges being dropped, is trying to rebuild his career at Marseille. Ahead of the Champions League clash with Newcastle, Roberto De Zerbi was asked to comment on the player’s image back home.
While Greenwood remains unwelcome in England, Marseille has embraced him, and De Zerbi is not shying away from defending his player. Instead of avoiding the topic, the Italian coach delivered a speech that sounded almost like a supportive parent at a school meeting.
“I never get involved in people’s private lives, not even my children’s,” De Zerbi began, making it clear he had no intention of judging. He followed up firmly: Greenwood? “A good person.” The coach insisted the forward “paid a heavy price,” and explained that in Marseille he has found “affection, confidence, support”, everything needed to reboot a career in a stable environment.
An “introverted” Greenwood
De Zerbi even described Greenwood as “introverted,” praised his “lovely family,” and admitted he felt “sad” about how the Englishman is perceived in his home country. It almost sounded like the next line could have been: “And he even keeps his room tidy.”
In short, it was an emphatic and emotional defense, as solid as the backline Marseille hopes to show on Tuesday night. De Zerbi didn’t just stand by his player; he rolled out a full emotional red carpet for him.
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