Barcelona are reportedly planning a bold move for Mason Greenwood, but the Catalan giants’ approach could leave Manchester United concerned about missing out on a significant transfer windfall.
Since joining Marseille in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £26.7 million, Greenwood has enjoyed an impressive resurgence. The 24-year-old forward has scored 37 goals in 58 appearances, establishing himself as Ligue 1’s top scorer and earning a place in L’Equipe’s Team of the Year for 2025. Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi has even gone as far as describing Greenwood as a Ballon d’Or-level talent. His outstanding form has now attracted the attention of Barcelona, who are searching for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski as the Polish striker approaches the end of his contract.
Greenwood đang có phong độ cao.
Greenwood is in explosive form.
The complication lies in Manchester United’s sell-on clause, which entitles them to 50% of the profit from any future transfer involving Greenwood. However, due to ongoing financial constraints, Barcelona are believed to be considering a deal that would include Ferran Torres as part of the exchange, reducing the amount of cash involved.
This proposal could potentially work against United’s interests. If Marseille were to accept a player-plus-cash deal rather than a straightforward fee, calculating the true market value of the transfer — and therefore United’s share of the profit — could become highly contentious. In the worst-case scenario, legal intervention might be required to determine a fair valuation, leading to delays and uncertainty.
Barcelona’s approach contrasts sharply with a reported €100 million all-cash offer made last month by Saudi club NEOM SC. That deal would have allowed Manchester United to secure an immediate profit of around £30 million from the sell-on clause.
INEOS, United’s co-owners, are said to be particularly frustrated by the situation. Reports suggest Barcelona may be open to sending Marcus Rashford back to Old Trafford at the end of his loan spell as part of the negotiations, while simultaneously claiming they lack the funds to make a permanent purchase. By presenting themselves as financially stretched yet attempting to land Greenwood through a player swap, Barcelona risk placing Manchester United in a difficult and potentially disadvantageous position ahead of a crucial summer transfer window.
