Why Man United will be delighted with Mason Greenwood's form after Marseille turned a blind eye to his ugly past - but England recall is step too far
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There is only one kind of morality in football and it is money. And there is one currency that football’s morality prefers above all others, and which it accepts with a big smile on its face, and that is goals. And Mason Greenwood scores goals. On Sunday evening, Greenwood stood amid the tumult of the Stade Velodrome, the ball tucked under his arm, as the drums beat relentlessly from the Virage Nord behind the goal, a firecracker exploded and Marseille and Strasbourg players jostled, shouted and shoved.
![[The 23-year-old scored scored his twelfth goal of the season in a win over Strasbourg]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/94306667-14305261-image-a-2_1737391999246.jpg)
It was midway through the second half and Marseille were a goal down but they had a penalty and Greenwood was to take it. A kind of calmness comes over strikers like him in a moment like this. Greenwood looked separate. Detached. As if he could blot out the noise.
![[Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 for suspected attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour - but the charges were dropped 13 months later by the Crown Prosecution Service]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/87128665-14305261-Greenwood_was_arrested_in_January_2022_for_suspected_attempted_r-a-8_1737392288153.jpg)
Eventually, when the attempts to unsettle him had ceased, Greenwood put the ball down on the spot and took a few steps back. And then he ran up and drilled his kick low to the left of Djordje Petrovic and beyond the outstretched hand of the Strasbourg goalkeeper.
![[Man United procrastinated with how to proceed over their young, academy talent]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/16/94306975-14305261-image-a-4_1737392095867.jpg)
There was a huge roar of exultation and relief from the delirious fans in this great cauldron of French football and as the ball bounced out of the back of the net, Greenwood stooped to pick it up and booted it high into the cold night air. As the former Manchester United wunderkind walked back to the centre circle, kissing his wrist and pointing to the heavens, the stadium announcer yelled out his name above the din.
![[They were considering bringing Greenwood back into the fold under then manager Erik ten Hag]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/17/94308407-14305261-image-a-18_1737392692005.jpg)
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