Give Carsley the England job right now! 

Grealish & Rice return to haunt Ireland in dream Carsley debut

Maanum is Arsenal's UWCL qualifying hero as Russo curses her luck

Messi a clear victim of Ballon d'Or's European bias

England new-boy Gomes can show Man Utd what they're missing

Arsenal summer signing Calafiori suffers freak injury

McElhenney celebrates as Wrexham move top of League One

Mbappe drops another stinker as France slump to Italy defeat

Ballon d'Or Rankings: Vini at No.1 after nominees announced

‘Reason why he’s in Saudi Arabia’ – CR7 becomes a ‘problem’

Kroos goes viral with hilarious tweet after Ronaldo's 900th goal

Parkinson confirms Wrexham want to sign ex-Man City youth star

'Teach Rashford please' - Fans wowed by Rooney free-kick

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Greenwood swaps Man Utd for Marseille</li><li>De Zerbi 'major attraction' in move</li><li>Ex-Brighton boss called him daily before transfer</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Roberto De Zerbi was 'major attraction' for Mason Greenwood to join Marseille from Man Utd as ex-Brighton boss 'called him every day' during transfer negotiations

Premier League

Southampton

Manchester United

Ligue 1

Marseille

Nice

The long-running Greenwood transfer saga came to an end last week when the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mason-greenwood-man-utd-permanent-transfer-marseille-fans-mayor-protest/bltc7de013950f3f4f3#cs93556e396fbac9f2" target="_blank">forward left United for Marseille</a>. And according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5652658/2024/07/24/mason-greenwood-manchester-united-exit/?source=twitteruk&amp;utm_campaign=twitterfc&amp;utm_medium=social" target="_blank">The Athletic</a>, ex-Brighton boss De Zerbi played a big role in his transfer, with the Italian reportedly calling Greenwood and his father Andrew every day as the Ligue 1 side tried to land his signature.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/greenwoodnotwelcome-marseille-club-divided-27m-transfer-man-utd-outcast-mason-greenwood-edges-closer/bltfc916ec23f65f626" target="_blank"> criticism from some Marseille fans</a> over signing Greenwood - which stemmed from the one-time England international previously being accused of attempted rape, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/man-utd-mason-greenwood-cleared-all-charges-attempted-rape-assault-case/blt667fec4a13dfc50d" target="_blank">before all charges were dropped</a> - De Zerbi has stuck by the 22-year-old. Before Greenwood signed, he said: “What I can say is that once a player signs with Marseille, all the players, he becomes like a son to me and I will protect him from anyone. If I have to pull their ears or put him against the wall I will — but in front of people, I will defend him like a son.”The Athletic says that De Zerbi's words 'resonated' with the former Getafe loanee, who later gave his approval for the transfer to Marseille.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Greenwood, who signed a five-year deal with Marseille for an initial fee of £23.3 million ($30m), was linked with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lazio-opening-bid-man-utd-outcast-mason-greenwood-rejected-serie-a-giants-rival-juventus-transfer-interest/blt0c5e3f7716a717f6#cs9fe14bd752494ca1" target="_blank">Lazio, Barcelona, and Getafe</a> but ended up leaving United for the Ligue 1 team. Last season on loan he scored 10 goals and bagged six assists in all competitions for Getafe.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ahead of making his full debut with Marseille when the Ligue 1 season rolls round next month, Greenwood could feature in their pre-season friendlies against SC Toulon, Pau, Sunderland and Augsburg in the coming weeks.

WHAT NEXT?

Roberto De Zerbi was 'major attraction' for Mason Greenwood to join Marseille from Man Utd as ex-Brighton boss 'called him every day' during transfer negotiations | Goal.com English Bahrain

New Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi was reportedly a &apos;major attraction&apos; for Mason Greenwood to leave Manchester United for the French side.

Roberto De Zerbi was &apos;major attraction&apos; for Mason Greenwood to join Marseille from Man Utd as ex-Brighton boss &apos;called him every day&apos; during transfer negotiations