Mason Greenwood is wanted by a host of teams across Europe (Picture: Getty)
Lazio president Claudio Lotito has accused ‘terrified’ rival clubs Juventus and Napoli of trying to ‘disrupt’ their move for Manchester United outcast Mason Greenwood this summer.
Greenwood impressed on loan at La Liga outfit Getafe last season, racking up eight goals and six assists in the Spanish top flight which saw the 22-year-old get his hands on the club’s player-of-the-year award.
The young attacker has not featured for United since his arrest in January 2022 for attempted rape, controlling behaviour and assault – charges that were subsequently dropped.
A host of top clubs from around Europe have been monitoring Greenwood’s situation, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Napoli and Lazio among those credited with an interest in recent weeks and months.
However, Marseille are the favourites to capture Greenwood’s services after reaching an agreement with United for the England international worth in the region of €31.6million (£26.7m).
Greenwood is yet to agree personal terms with the Marseille, though, and the Ligue 1 outfit must now finalise a deal with the forward and his entourage.
According to recent reports emanating out of Italy, Lazio are close to pulling out of the race for Greenwood’s signature and the Serie A side are now considering a bid to sign Barcelona’s Vitor Roque.
The England international shone on loan at Getafe last season (Picture: Getty)
‘I offered €25million (£21m) including 50 per cent on a future resale, plus bonuses and commissions,’ Lazio president Lotito told TMW when asked for an update on the club’s move to Greenwood.
‘However, several clubs have emerged to make disruptive actions.
‘After Juventus and Napoli, it seems that everyone is turning up, trying to jinx it.
‘Maybe they are terrified by the fact that we can take him and they want to ruin everything.’
Lotito confirmed Lazio made a £21m offer for the United forward (Picture: Getty)
Greenwood, who has been capped once by the England national team, is out of contract in 2025 and United are determined to offload their academy product this summer before he can leave for free in 12 months’ time.
United’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, had previously suggested that Greenwood could still have a future at the Theatre of Dreams.
Quizzed on a potential move for Greenwood at his first press conference as Marseille’s manager on Tuesday, De Zerbi told reporters: ‘He has not been recruited so there is not much to say. He is a champion, an international-level player.
‘I don’t know his past, I don’t know exactly what happened. I don’t like to interfere in the private lives of players.
‘The only thing I can say is that when a player signs for the club where I work, I consider him as my child.
‘I protect him through thick and thin, even if I can pull his ear in private, I will defend him publicly. My players are like my sons.’
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