Inside Mason Greenwood’s sheltered family life abroad as ex Man United ace ‘ditches parties & gives up on England dream’

HE has wiped the slate clean after leaving Manchester for a new life abroad.

And it appears that Mason Greenwood is enjoying his fresh start in France, where he is said to have put his party lifestyle behind him and become a “homebody”.

The striker – who was accused of attempted rape, assault and coercive control in January 2022 – was sold last summer to Marseille in a deal that netted boyhood team Manchester United £23.3 million.

And this week, it was revealed that the 23-year-old and partner Harriet Robson have just welcomed their second daughter in the French city.

The couple have carved out a new life 700 miles away from Old Trafford, after Greenwood was moved on by United following pressure from domestic abuse campaigners when the abuse charges were dropped in February 2023.

A source told The Sun Greenwood was never likely to return to a British club after the furore.

They said: “Mason should be Manchester United’s star striker but the reality is he seemingly has no way back.  

“He got one cap for England and it’s unlikely he will ever add to that. 

“The scrutiny he faces in England would be a million times more than he’s had in France. For instance, he was once walking into a petrol station and someone called him a rapist and videoed it.

“That doesn’t happen in Marseille where he’s most likely to be stopped and told what a great player he is.

“He’s not being asked questions by the press and can focus on his football.”

Bradford-born Greenwood was on loan to Spanish side Getafe for a season before his move to Marseille.

Instagram images show him and Harriet enjoying the simple life at home with their eldest daughter Summer and Greenwood looks every inch the doting dad, talking softly to her as a newborn, bottle-feeding and taking her for walks in a buggy.

Before leaving Spain, the couple enjoyed a sunshine-soaked Mediterranean holiday and pictures show them relaxing on a private yacht, Greenwood’s arm draped around Harriet, who he has dated since the age of 16.

Just before the move to France, he also enjoyed what looked like a solo trip to Tokyo where the £70,000-a-week player went on a shopping spree, buying Harriet an Yves Saint Laurent handbag and a pair of designer toddler shoes for Summer. 

Our source said Mason has been enjoying football abroad because it gave his family more anonymity, but he is still said to be slightly nervous about going out and about alone.

They said: “When he went to Spain he wasn’t playing for a massive club like Real Madrid and what Mason loved was being able to do normal family things, like going out for meals or shopping with Harriet and not be recognised.

“He is a lot happier now. His career is not going to be what he expected it to be, which is hard for a player like Mason, who knows how talented he is. 

“He’s now having to assess what’s more important; does he play for the best team he can or does he just need to play and have a more stable, structured home life?

“In France, he’s got good influences around him.

“Manchester is a small city and you might wonder about whether the people who surrounded him there had his best interests at heart.

“In Marseille he will be going out with teammates and not really hanging about with anyone else.

“They are older, more mature, more sophisticated and appear more protective of him.

“If they go out for a team meal, Mason isn’t likely to end up partying.”

Greenwood had the world at his feet when he enjoyed his breakout season for United in 2019.

He was flying high when, in January 2022, he was arrested for attempted rate, assault and coercive control. He was quickly dropped by sponsor Nike.

Police charges against him were dropped a year later after a “key witness withdrew their involvement”, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.

United flirted with the idea of bringing Greenwood back but, after pressure from domestic abuse campaigners, he was put out on loan.

He’s happier and team mates are protective

Club source

It wasn’t the first time Greenwood had been in hot water with the club.

In September 2020 he and midfielder Phil Foden were sent home from England’s hotel in Iceland for breaking Covid-19 guidelines.

The scandal saw the pair sneak two Icelandic girls into the England team hotel, which resulted in pictures of the Three Lions stars being leaked on social media.

Greenwood was then accused of flouting restrictions again by throwing rowdy parties at a 13-bed Airbnb in Manchester.

Since arriving in Marseille, he and model Harriet, who has worked with brands like Fashion Nova and Pretty Little Thing, are said to be enjoying the “simple life”.

An insider this week said: “They are both delighted with the safe arrival of their second child. Mason is performing well on the pitch and then he comes home to Harriet and his children.

“Life is simpler and they have less distractions, which is suiting the both of them.”

Bosses at his new club have made it clear they support their new signing while dressing room sources say he is a “very polite and kind young man”.

They added: “If he ever goes out, he is never alone. He is always a little worried and vigilant.”

His move to Marseille caused controversy as some fans protested the move and city mayor Benoit Payan claimed he would bring “shame” to the club.

Greenwood has previously said that he understood “people will think the worst” of him but his new team’s president Pablo Longoria says fans are being won over by his footballing.

He told Spanish outlet Relevo: “His behaviour has been excellent since arriving… we are very proud to have Mason among us.”

New manager Roberto De Zerbi said: “He’s a champion, an international level player.

“I don’t know what happened (in the UK), I’m not concentrating on private lives.

“When a player sings 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.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk