It’s not too often a deal comes up that feels perfect for everyone involved. Mason Greenwood’s exit could meet that high standard.
While Manchester United have reportedly turned down an opening offer of £20 million from Lazio, a transfer that could take Mason Greenwood away from Old Trafford permanently – while acting as a massive boost for the Red Devils’ finances – ticks almost every box imaginable.
According to Gianluca di Marzio, Lazio are still pushing hard for Greenwood. The Italian giants are around £10 million short of United’s valuation so far but they are not giving up. Far from it.
Di Marzio claims that further talks will take place on Monday, Lazio ready to launch what he describes as a ‘blitz’ in pursuit of the one-time England international.
Man United certainly won’t stand in Greenwood’s way. His departure will remove a very unseemly distraction away from the club, while freeing up the funds to step up their chase for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee.
Lazio, meanwhile, would be getting them a player who – in purely footballing terms – would represent an ‘important coup’, to quote Biancocelesti legend Bruno Giordino. A genuine matchwinning talent at a club who finished a very disappointing seventh last term.
Mason Greenwood nearing Manchester United exit
Chairman-turned-pundit Simon Jordan, meanwhile, believes a fresh start in Italy could be the beginning of Greenwood getting his career back on the right track again.
“Yes, I do,” Jordan told talkSPORT (24 June, 12.50pm) when asked if he can see Greenwood being a big success away from Man United. “(But) not necessarily in England.”
Greenwood has not represented United since he was suspended by the club in January 2022. A loan spellin La Liga with Getafe went a long way to drumming up interest, however, with Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona among those have also expressed an admiration alongside Lazio.
Di Marzio reported last week that Greenwood had given his preference to Juventus. Lazio may have some competition, then, once Juve finally sort out a highly complicated deal for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz and move on to their next targets.
Lazio face Juventus in Serie A battle
“Some of the nonsense that was being trotted out a few months ago about contracts being terminated… I knew that was not the case. United were sending him out of the way (to Spain) for some of the air to come out of the controversy that surrounded him,” adds Jordan, the former Crystal Palace chief.
“He is a very good player. If he lands inside the Italian league, at a club like Lazio, then he is on his way to playing for a big football club once again.
“And over a period of time, the longer he stays out of English football, the more he will find himself being judged by his football. That period of life which he will look back on with great regret from his own behaviour will become something that is less of a conversation.
“If he ever lands back in English football, it will come up again.
“But I think if he goes somewhere like Serie A and does very well – because there is no doubt the player is a very good player – then he will get the opportunities I think (to rebuild his career).”