‘He paid for it’ – Marseille boss De Zerbi reveals why he controversially dropped top-scorer Mason Greenwood

ROBERTO DE ZERBI has revealed why he dropped Mason Greenwood from Marseille's starting XI.

The disgraced former Manchester United winger has been the Ligue 1 side's star performer so far this season, scoring 15 goals in 26 appearances.

Greenwood, for much of the campaign, was one of the first names on the teamsheet.

But he's had to make do with substitute appearances in Marseille's recent clashes with Lens and Paris Saint-German.

It was recently claimed that the 23-year-old's work rate was the reason why De Zerbi demoted him to the bench.

But the former Brighton boss insists that couldn't be any further from the truth.

The Italian said: “We need to clarify the Mason Greenwood case a little.

“Because you journalists are always in a position to change things a little, to create some scoops.

“Because you have to do what all journalists do a little bit, which is to make a little bit of chaos.

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“‘He's had a bit of a tough time lately because he had a daughter who was born, and I don't think he's used to playing such an intense season and being a main player.

“I think he paid for it physically.

“That is to say that he didn't push himself and wasn't 100 percent as I wanted in training, in terms of what I expect from a player like him.

“His physical condition has declined a little, but my project in Marseille is not only to qualify for the Champions League, it is also to create something like what Luis Enrique has created (at PSG).

“He has created a team, a group of strong players, but with a soul.”

Greenwood's promising Manchester United came to a screeching halt in January 2022 when he was arressted on suspiscion of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive control – which he was later charged with.

The Crown Prosecution Service, however, dropped the charges following the “withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light.”

Greenwood returned to action last season with La Liga side Getafe, for whom he scored ten goals and provided six assists.

He officially left Manchester United last summer, joining Marseille for a fee in the region of £26million.