Mason Greenwood ‘gives green light to new club’ but ex-Chelsea boss holding up deal
Manchester United ruled last month that they would facilitate Mason Greenwood’s departure.
Lazio are reportedly ready to throw Mason Greenwood a lifeline and have stepped up their pursuit of the Manchester United outcast. The Red Devils are desperate to offload the forward before the transfer window closes and have entertained conversations with clubs from around the world.
In August, United announced that they had concluded an internal six-month investigation into Greenwood and come to a decision that he would leave the club and that there were no plans to reintegrate the player back into the first-team set-up.
The England international was arrested in January 2022 and charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour later that year. Greenwood denied the allegations and in February this year, the Crown Prosecution Services dropped all charges against him.
The Red Devils quickly ruled that they would be taking an extended look into the case themselves and the overall situation before ruling that ‘all parties’ felt that it was best for Greenwood to continue his footballing career elsewhere and that they would facilitate his exit. Saudi Arabian outfits were quickly linked, though Lazio appear to hold a concrete interest in the Red Devils’ academy product.
According to Italian news outlet GianlucaDiMarzio.com, there has been contact between the Serie A side and Greenwood to explore a potential move – and United remain informed of the ongoing situation. The forward is said to be keen to make the move overseas and has approved of the interest.
However, Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri has not yet approved of the transfer to date and the ex-Chelsea boss’ green light is ‘needed’ in order for negotiations to accelerate, with time running out as the 11pm summer transfer window deadline approaches. It remains to be seen whether the 64-year-old will provide the Lazio higher powers with the much-desired seal of approval or whether Greenwood will be left pondering where his future lies once again. Besiktas are the only other cub with concrete links to Greenwood as of now.
Speaking on Thursday, Southgate explained: “It’s clearly a very complex case. He’s not playing so it’s not a consideration for us. It’s hypothetical. I think it’s a topic that whatever I say, I could give you a nuanced answer, but it will be used in a less nuanced fashion, frankly.”
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