'Exceptional' - Roberto De Zerbi lavishes praise on 'excellent' Mason Greenwood after ex-Man Utd star scores a brace on Marseille debut

The former Manchester United forward, who joined the French side under a cloud of controversy, showcased his undeniable talent by scoring twice in a commanding 5-1 victory over Brest in the opening match of the Ligue 1 season.

It took only three minutes for Greenwood to announce his arrival in French football. The 22-year-old forward, who was eager to prove himself after a tumultuous period at Manchester United, latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted it past the Brest goalkeeper. Greenwood’s second goal came 27 minutes later after he won a penalty following a clumsy challenge from a Brest defender.

De Zerbi, who took charge of Marseille after leaving Brighton at the end of the 2023-24 Premier League season, was instrumental in bringing Greenwood to the French club. Despite protests from some fans and even opposition from the mayor of Marseille, De Zerbi remained steadfast in his belief that Greenwood could be a key player for the team. After the match, the Italian manager’s faith seemed vindicated.

Talking to reporters, De Zerbi said: "Mason Greenwood is just exceptional. He’s an excellent player and you can see that. I'm happy to see him scoring so it will all the controversy in the media."

As Marseille continued to dominate, Greenwood won another penalty in the second half. With the chance to complete a hat-trick on his debut, many expected him to step up once again. However, in a surprising display of selflessness, Greenwood handed the ball to his teammate, Elye Wahi, who was also making his debut for the club. Wahi converted the penalty, marking his first goal for Marseille and further cementing the team's comprehensive victory.

With the first win of the season under their belt, Marseille and Greenwood will now turn their attention to their next fixture against Reims. The upcoming match presents another opportunity for Greenwood to continue his fine form and bring back the glory days to the French club.