Statement from OM's New Sporting Director Lorenzi: Why Was Greenwood Sold for This Price?

Greenwood's Marseille Adventure Comes to an End

Mason Greenwood, who scored 48 goals and provided 17 assists in 81 matches for Marseille over two seasons, has left the club. The only club to make an official offer to Marseille for the English player, who was also pursued by AS Roma and Atletico Madrid, was Fenerbahçe.

Debate Among Fans: Is the Sale Price Adequate?

This departure has sparked significant debate among Marseille fans. Some supporters, saddened by the departure of the club's best player, believe that selling Greenwood for just 42 million euros, including bonuses, is too low — especially since part of this fee will be sent to Manchester United, which has increased criticism. For instance, the sale of a similar winger, Anthony Gordon, to Barcelona for 80 million euros has reinforced the perception among Marseille fans that Greenwood was "sold cheaply."

Clear Statement from New Sporting Director Lorenzi

This Wednesday, OM's new sporting director Grégory Lorenzi was officially introduced to the press and answered questions on the matter quite openly. The former Stade Brestois executive reminded that the Greenwood case was already complicated due to the player's image, and emphasized that many opportunities should not be assumed while discussing this figure.

Lorenzi stressed that discussions had previously taken place regarding the player's desire to leave the club, and that this was not solely Marseille's choice. According to the sporting director, a gap emerged between the market's valuation of the player and the request for a sale of 80-100 million euros because clubs did not come knocking — in summary, the market decided that the player did not merit such figures.

"It Was a Figure That Fit Our Budget"

Regarding the fee of 42 million euros (including bonuses), Lorenzi stated that this amount was in line with the club's planned budget. Acknowledging that Greenwood was a beloved player among fans, the executive made it clear in discussions with supporters that the club would not force a player who did not want to wear the jersey to stay.

Lorenzi also noted that many of the figures circulating in the public domain were shared by individuals lacking accurate information. It was thought that multiple clubs would show interest, but this did not happen, which is why Fenerbahçe was deemed the best solution under the current circumstances.

Conclusion

Lorenzi's statements as Marseille's new sporting director provide a transparent response to the controversial points in Greenwood's sale process. The lack of numerous expected bidders ultimately led to Fenerbahçe becoming the sole concrete offer holder and determining the outcome of the process.

Source: The information in this article is based on a report published by Matthieu Margueritte in Foot Mercato (footmercato.net).