Mason Greenwood
In a recent development, Pablo Longoria, president of Olympique de Marseille, has addressed the club’s decision to sign Mason Greenwood, following the dropping of all charges against the player. Greenwood, who was previously charged with assault, attempted rape, and controlling behavior, saw all allegations dismissed after new evidence emerged and a key witness withdrew. Longoria has now spoken publicly for the first time about the considerations behind the signing.
Pablo Longoria said: “For me, it’s correct to speak openly about it. Creating taboos in life is never positive. For us, it was a massive market opportunity from a sporting perspective, where we analysed very carefully what really happened. In that case, having done due diligence and having all the information – and this is the first time I speak about this – with all the information, I called my mother. And I said, ‘What do you think, knowing all the situation?’ And my mother, who used to work in the prison system in Spain, having a very innovative prison system model in Spain – she was recognised with the medal of the state – so I ask her, having all this information, ‘what would you do in my position?’ And she said to me, ‘Do it’, with all the information.”
Longoria added: “For me, at the moment when you have the full information, you deal with it with normality, because this is the most important thing – to have normality in life. Deal with that. Yes, I know that there is criticism. I know that the situation, it’s so many times, potentially reputational [damage]. But, I repeat, if you think that you are taking the right decision, with the right level of information, and from a human perspective as well, because Mason, he’s a good kid, seriously. From that time, I sleep at night.”
Longoria continued: “I’m not the kind of man who makes judgments without knowing everything and without taking into account all the different elements. It is also not about saying, ‘what goes on outside football I don’t care about’. That is not correct.”
Longoria’s comments highlight the complexity of the decision-making process at Marseille. By consulting his mother, who has experience in the prison system, Longoria sought an unbiased perspective, focusing on the human aspect rather than just the sporting potential. This decision has sparked debate, with some questioning the potential reputational risks involved. However, Longoria emphasized the importance of dealing with situations with normality and informed judgment.
The move to sign Greenwood is seen as a significant market opportunity for Marseille, with Longoria confident in the due diligence conducted. Despite the criticism, Longoria stands by the decision, underscoring the importance of having comprehensive information and considering the player’s character beyond the football field.
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