Mason Greenwood can win the Ballon d’Or, his Marseille supervisor Roberto de Zerbi boldly claims
Marseille boss Roberto de Zerbi has boldly claimed that Mason Greenwood could win the Ballon d’Or.
The former Manchester United forward, 24, is enjoying a stellar season with the French club in which he’s already bagged an impressive 13 goals in all competitions.
His latest two came on Tuesday night as Marseille defeated Union Saint-Gilloise 3-2 in the Champions League. Greenwood’s second on the evening a curled effort on his left-foot after a silky turn in the box.
The England international’s performances have earned him the adulation of his manager, who has been hugely complimentary of his star man in the media.
And in his biggest claim yet, De Zerbi backed Greenwood to win the Ballon d’Or while speaking to the media on Friday ahead of Marseille’s clash with Monaco.
‘I see him every day, he has huge potential,’ the 46-year-old said. ‘I don’t see any other players in Europe at the same level. He has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or. It will be up to him to decide whether he wants to do everything he can to fight for it or not.
Marseille manager Roberto de Zerbi has backed Mason Greenwood to win the Ballon d’Or
De Zerbi said he can’t see any other plays in Europe at the same level as the 24-year-old
‘At the level of the qualities that nature has given him, that his parents have given him, I think he is worthy of the Ballon d’Or.
‘I would like him to be more consistent. I know he needs to press with more intensity, he needs to manage the ball better when the team is in trouble, not lose the ball easily but keep it to allow the team to move up because he has the ability to do it.’
Greenwood left Man United in the summer of 2024 after being arrested in January 2022 and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. However those charges were eventually dropped.
He began rebuilding his career at Getafe, scoring 10 goals in his solitary season with the Spanish club before signing for Marseille in a deal worth around £26million.
While his first campaign with the club was impressive, it’s been this season that Greenwood has taken his game to new heights. He’s currently the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 10 goals to his name already.
Yet De Zerbi still wants more from the winger.
‘The important thing is that he understands it in three or four years,’ he added. ‘Not necessarily now, when I no longer train. When he remembers me, he will say, “Ah, it was the coach who really took my head every day but maybe in the end I managed to progress.”
‘I have to leave Marseille in a better situation than when I arrived. Greenwood must be better than the Greenwood I took at the beginning.’
Greenwood scored two on Tuesday as Marseille being Union Saint-Gillois 3-2
Sunderland
V
Newcastle United
*18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply
He could face his former Man United team-mate Paul Pogba on Sunday when Monaco travel to the Stade Velodrome
Marseille host Monaco on Sunday in a game which could see Greenwood reunite with his old Red Devils team-mate Paul Pogba.
The duo played together for some five years at Old Trafford before Greenwood was exiled from the team, with Pogba himself eventually leaving in the summer of 2022.
The French midfielder re-signed for Juventus but was handed a four-year doping ban just months later and eventually parted ways with the Old Lady.
With his ban ultimately reduced, Pogba joined Monaco in the summer and made his debut for the club a couple of weeks ago.
Though he hasn’t started a game yet, the 32-year-old is likely to feature from the bench against Greenwood’s men at the Stade Velodrome this weekend.
