MASON GREENWOOD could be in line for a surprise homecoming next month.
It comes despite the 22-year-old being on the verge of completing a transfer to French club Marseille from Manchester United.
Greenwood is close to completing a £27million – plus £3.2m in add-ons and a 50 per cent sell-on clause – move to the Ligue 1 side after spending last season on loan at LaLiga outfit Getafe.
However, on August 3, Bradford-born Greenwood is set to make a trip home.
This is because Marseille have a friendly lined up with Sunderland at League Two side Bradford City‘s Valley Parade on that date.
The reason the friendly is being hosted there is because the Black Cats ground, the Stadium of Light will not be ready to play at, as they mark the 15-year anniversary of the passing of the father of the club’s chairman, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
Louis-Dreyfus’ dad, Robert, was a majority shareholder of Marseille between 1996 and 2009, with the two clubs coming together to commemorate his legacy.
Greenwood was born in Wibsey and attended Appleton Academy in Wyke.
As a youngster Greenwood would practise his ball skills on non-league side Bradford Park Avenue’s turf while his sister Ashton would sprint around the 400-metre track.
He eventually joined Man Utd’s development academy in Halifax, West Yorkshire, at the age of six.
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Greenwood made his senior debut in 2019 before eventually establishing himself as a regular first team player.
However, this summer the forward was told he no longer had a future at Man Utd in a meeting with the club’s leadership team, but returned to individual pre-season training.
Greenwood was suspended by the club in January 2022 before being charged nine months later of attempted rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour towards a woman.
The one-time England international denied the claims, with all criminal charges eventually being dropped in February 2023.
Marseille have struck their deal with Man Utd and Greenwood against the wishes of many fans, with some starting a campaign called #GreenwoodNotWelcome that implored Marseille chiefs to abandon their pursuit or risk doing “irreversible damage”.
Marseille mayor Benoit Payan has also opposed the move, saying he would lobby the club’s president Pablo Longoria to call off the deal.
The mayor told RMC: “I do not want my club to be covered in shame. It is not acceptable.”
However, boss Roberto de Zerbi, who joined from Brighton, vowed to “defend Greenwood” if the forward was signed.
He said: “Greenwood isn’t recruited yet so there isn’t much to say. He’s a champion, an international level player.
“I don’t know what happened, I’m not concentrating on private lives. When a player signs for the club, I consider him my child.
“Even if I can pull his ear in private, I will defend him publicly. My players are like my sons.”
On the match itself, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said: “My earliest childhood memories are of Olympique Marseille and my love for football was born from my father’s association with the club.
“Like Sunderland, Marseille is a city that lives and breathes football 24/7 and it will be a privilege to bring the two clubs closest to my heart together to celebrate the life of my father.
“It is unfortunate that we can’t play at the Stadium of Light due to our ongoing developments and we appreciate Bradford City’s support in hosting the game, which I’m sure will also act as the strong test for our team ahead of the new season.”
Man Utd have already got their own pre-season underway, kicking off with a 1-0 defeat to Norwegian side Rosenborg on Monday.
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