Marseille fans FUME as they complete the £30m signing of Mason Greenwood from Man United, 17 months after rape and assault charges were dropped

Marseille fans have raged against the signing of Mason Greenwood, branding the move 'disgusting' and 'immoral' in a spate of seething online rants. 

The French club have completed the signing of Greenwood, 22, from Manchester United for £27million plus £3.2m in add-ons. Last season he was named Getafe's Player of the Season after 10 goals and six assists on loan. 

Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour in October 2022, but the charges and case were dropped in February 2023 when key witnesses withdrew. The forward has denied any wrongdoing. 

Marseille supporters launched a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign earlier in July and while some welcomed him to the airport with cheers on Wednesday night, others have now protested in the fiercest terms on social media. 

'Never been so ashamed to support this club. Disgusted to see this guy in our colors, disgusted to see that he is defended or even supported by some. Without me,' wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter. 

'Bunch of filthy big guys, you disgust,' wrote another. 

One fan branded it the 'most immoral moment' in the club's history. 

Greenwood returned to Carrington on Monday to speak with United chiefs about leaving. He has not played for the Red Devils since January 2022, when the allegations came out. 

The charges against him were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the withdrawal of key witnesses, but the club continued its own internal investigation into a series of harrowing images and audio recordings. In August 2023 it was announced he would leave by mutual agreement.

Meanwhile, a well-followed fan account has received more than 2,000 likes for an extended essay decrying the signing. 

It reads: 'There are things that are much more important than football... and respect for women is one of them!!!

'I am terribly disappointed with the arrival of Mason Greenwood at the club that I have supported since I was little. The club that I fell in love with, for its players, its history but also, and above all, for its values and its stances, where women occupy a very large place.

'What message are you sending, with this signature, to the thousands of women who fill the stands of the Vélodrome, to the millions of women who support you around the world, to the dozens of women and children, victims of domestic violence whom you welcomed during Covid???

'OM is above all a football club, so I completely understand that the managers only thought about the athlete, and not about the values ​​and image of the club... but for me, that doesn't work anyway.

'But hey, now he's here. So I won't cheer or shout his name when he scores, but if he wants and tries to become a better person, then I will support him in that process.. but that's it for me! 

'I am a supporter of Olympique de Marseille, I support this jersey, this badge... not the managers or the players!!! 

'Everyone is free to think what they want about themselves, I have my opinion, and I respect those who have a different one. 

'The only thing I can ask you is not to divide yourselves, and if you wish to debate, to do so with respect.. GO OM!!'

There were also messages of good luck and welcome for Greenwood littered beneath Marseille's post announcing his arrival. 

On Wednesday Joey Barton threw his hat in the ring and argued that he 'deserves a chance to get on with his career'.

He also added that he thinks England would have won Euro 2024 if Gareth Southgate had taken him.