Marseille could have sold Greenwood higher by eyeing Atlético or Al‑Ahli
Mason Greenwood, who left OM for Fenerbahçe, was not forced to go there. In an interview on Sunday evening on Canal Football Club, former sporting director Mehdi Benatia explained that the Marseille club had explored other options, including Atlético Madrid and Al‑Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
Alternative destinations explored
"We had started some things... on Atlético Madrid, on Al‑Ahli in Saudi Arabia and then on Fenerbahçe," explained the former sporting director. These options showed that OM was considering several markets, including a return to Spain and a project in the Middle East.
Benatia clarified that he had not finalized the deal himself. "What I did, at the request of the supervisory board, was that I put them a little bit in touch," he said.
The negotiations were then carried out by the club's new management and by the striker's representatives. The player's representatives evaluated the financial and sporting proposals.
The weight of the player's choice
Greenwood's choice weighed heavily in the final decision. "I think Mason Greenwood quickly decided to go to Fenerbahçe," affirmed Benatia. This decision was made before the new management finalized the contract terms.
The striker left OM to join the Istanbul club, where he quickly established himself as one of the main offensive weapons. In Istanbul, he quickly found his place in the starting eleven.
Benatia believes that a greater openness could have allowed Marseille to obtain a higher price and a different league. "If they had been a little more open, they could have sold him for more, perhaps to Atlético Madrid," he added. A move to Atlético could have offered increased visibility in the Champions League.
The former executive does not question Greenwood's personal choice, but emphasizes that OM had several cards to negotiate with. Benatia recalled that the board was primarily looking to reduce the wage bill.
The club needed to generate cash and sharply cut its wage bill, which made the sale amount crucial. The Turkish option prevailed because the player quickly favored it. The amount obtained helped balance OM's accounts for the following season.