Former Manchester united wonderkid Mason Greenwood had an ugly spat with Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings in a pre-season friendly on Saturday. Greenwood, representing Marseille, had pulled off a crunching tackle on Villa’s Amadou Onana. After the coming together, Onana and Greenwood began exchanging words before Mings interjected and grabbed the Marseille forward’s collar and started to pull him around.
As both sets of players pulled Mings and Greenwood apart, it appeared as if the Aston Villa defender had torn some of the forward’s jersey. Greenwood, however, had the last laugh when he scored and assisted in the match which the French side won 3-1. John McGinn scored the lone Villa goal while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang smashed in two for Marseille.
Greenwood had left Manchester United in 2023 despite a criminal investigation of possible attempted rape being closed by prosecutors six months ago. The England forward had not played for United since January 2022 and his future remained unclear during the club’s own investigation.
Tyrone Mings absolutely manhandling Mason Greenwood 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/XI2Yxfa12W
— george (@StokeyyG2) August 9, 2025
“All those involved, including Mason, recognize the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United,” the club said in a statement. “It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.”
Greenwood said it was “the best decision for us all … to continue my football career away from Old Trafford, where my presence will not be a distraction for the club.”
Greenwood had been implicated in controlling and coercive behavior and assault relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
Since then, the forward had transferred to Marseille for the 24/25 season after a loan move to Getafe. He burst into form for the French club last season when he smashed 24 goals and assisted 6 times in 34 matches in Ligue 1. He also played 2 matches in the Coupe de France and scored once.
(With agency inputs)
