The former Manchester United forward, who joined Marseille alongside De Zerbi last summer, has been in sensational form since his move to Ligue 1.
Greenwood has netted 15 goals this season, with only PSG’s Ousmane Dembele surpassing his tally.
His impressive performances have caught the attention of top European clubs, including Barcelona, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid, all reportedly considering moves for him at the end of the season. ..Continue Reading
Marseille is eager to retain Greenwood, but De Zerbi’s stance may complicate matters as he has had disagreements with the 23-year-old during the campaign.
In one notable incident, the Italian manager reportedly erupted in anger over Greenwood’s commitment during training, leaving several teammates stunned.
This heated exchange occurred just before Marseille’s match against Lens earlier this month. Since then, Greenwood has been excluded from De Zerbi’s starting lineup.
Marseille went on to lose 1-0 to Lens and suffered a 3-1 defeat to PSG the following week, with Greenwood limited to substitute appearances in both games. De Zerbi justified his decision by claiming Greenwood was “not in the right physical condition to play.”
These back-to-back losses have seen Marseille fall 19 points behind Ligue 1 leaders PSG, who remain unbeaten. Nonetheless, OM are holding firm in second place and look set to secure an automatic Champions League qualification spot.
Despite Greenwood’s outstanding form, De Zerbi’s decision to sideline him has raised eyebrows.
However, the manager has remained consistent in his approach, staying true to his policy of excluding any player who fails to meet his training standards.
Additionally, he recently said of Greenwood: “I expect more from him. “He has to do more, because what he is currently showing is not enough. If he wants to achieve his ambition of becoming a champion, he has to be more consistent, sacrifice more and be more determined.”
Strains in the relationship between Greenwood and De Zerbi seem to have been simmering for a while. Back in October, the manager criticized Greenwood for being “out of shape” following a four-game stretch without any goals or assists. Shortly after, De Zerbi suggested that Greenwood’s overall performance levels had “declined.”
By February, De Zerbi voiced further frustration, stating that Greenwood was overly “fixated on scoring” and neglecting to develop other crucial aspects of his game, like improving his corner-taking abilities.
“Greenwood is not a specialist on corners,” De Zerbi said. “He could become one, but he is focused on the goal. When he goes to take a corner, he goes a bit like… and that annoys me.”
A few weeks ago, it emerged De Zerbi was becoming ‘increasingly impatient’ with the forward, with RMC Sport claiming that Greenwood’s “nonchalance”, “attitude” and “lack of effort” was rubbing staff members up the wrong way.
It is believed that the former Manchester United striker may face being offloaded by the club if he fails to regain favor with his manager.
Greenwood has been impressive on the pitch for Marseille, scoring 16 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions. He is now just two goals shy of setting a new personal record for goals in a single season.
The 23-year-old joined the French side from Manchester United in a £26 million transfer last year, after spending the previous season on loan at Getafe in La Liga.
Earlier this month, Greenwood made the switch in international allegiance from England to Jamaica. He earned his sole cap for England back in 2020 but has been out of the national team setup ever since.
