'Huffing and puffing our way out of the group stage'
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Daily Mail
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Marseille break silence on Mason Greenwood's future amid talk of Saudi interest in former Man United striker
Olympique de Marseille have insisted Mason Greenwood is not for sale despite growing speculation linking the former Manchester United forward with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. Reports in French media this week suggested several Saudi Pro League clubs had expressed interest in signing the 23-year-old, who has hit the ground running in pre-season after scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 last term. But Marseille's sporting director Mehdi Benatia has now addressed the rumours head-on, telling 365Scores Arabia: 'Greenwood will stay with us. He is not for sale.' Benatia added: 'We want to keep him and consider him a key part of OM's project for the upcoming season.' Benatia's comments pour cold water on claims that Marseille were considering cashing in on Greenwood, who joined the French side from United last summer for a fee of £27million, with a further £3.2m in potential add-ons. United reportedly inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause into the agreement, meaning they would stand to make a significant profit should the striker be sold — but for now, such a windfall looks unlikely. French newspaper L'Equipe previously suggested that Marseille could demand a fee in the region of €50m (£44m) if they were to sell Greenwood. Yet Benatia's firm stance suggests that Marseille remain committed to keeping their No 10, who has become a talismanic figure under head coach Roberto De Zerbi. Greenwood has been in scintillating form during pre-season, scoring six goals in friendlies, including a smart header against Sevilla on Saturday and a hat-trick against Dutch side Excelsior Maassluis last month. De Zerbi has publicly praised the ex-England international in recent months, saying in April: 'Greenwood is a natural talent, thanks to his mother and father. 'I am here to help him become more complete. When he needs a hug or a few supportive words, I will gladly give it. 'When I need to be on him to give more, I will do it. That is my job. Above all, I want to help him be remembered, in this stadium and by these fans, as one of the best to ever play at the Stade Velodrome. 'There have been so many great players here, but I think Greenwood can be remembered like that. I'm trying to help him reach that level.' Greenwood has a new strike partner this summer in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who rejoined the club this week after spending last season with Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League. Aubameyang has also spoken glowingly about Greenwood. 'He's the starboy! He's very strong, very good,' Aubameyang said of his new team-mate during his unveiling. 'In Saudi Arabia, I had a team-mate who had played with him in Spain and told me he was a phenomenon. I'm happy he's with us.' Greenwood scored 22 goals in all competitions last season, helping Marseille to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 and a return to the Champions League. That came after he bagged 10 times in 36 appearances for Getafe during a loan spell in the 2023-24 campaign. Prior to that Greenwood had not played a game of professional football since January 2022 — a month in which he was arrested on suspicion of raping and assaulting a woman. Greenwood was subsequently charged with a number of offences which were later all dropped.
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Why Celtic flag day promises to be extra special for player who has fewer wrinkles than one year ago
McCowan looking forward to meeting The Maestro Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Luke McCowan was in his mother's womb when Paul McStay retired from playing but he knows enough about the Celtic legend to appreciate he will be in exalted company on Sunday. Celtic midfielder McCowan was born in December 1997, seven months after McStay was forced to hang up his boots somewhat prematurely at the age of 32 due to a recurring ankle injury. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad McStay was a one-club man, spending 16 years with the Hoops, making 677 appearances, and winning eight major honours, as well as earning 76 caps for Scotland. The Maestro, as he was nicknamed due to his elegant and skillful style, will return to Celtic Park to unfurl the league championship flag ahead of the Premiership season opener against St Mirren. McCowan, 27, admits it will be an honour to meet his fellow midfielder and club icon for the first time. Celtic's Luke McCowan is relishing the chance to meet club legend Paul McStay as the league championship flag is unfurled ahead of kick-off against St Mirren in Sunday's Premiership season opener. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'It will mean a great deal, it really will," he said. "Paul retired shortly before I was born but, of course, I know all about him. He is a Celtic legend. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'When the fans voted for the Greatest Ever Celtic side he was picked to play in centre midfield – that tells you everything you need to know about him. 'He was in there alongside the likes of Henrik Larsson, Kenny Dalglish, Jinky Johnstone, Billy McNeill and Bobby Lennox. What a team that would have been! 'Paul is one of those guys who if you had told me when I was a kid that I might get the chance to meet one day, I would have been so happy. Hopefully I will get that chance on Sunday. I don't know what I will say to him, right enough, with a bit of luck something will come to me! 'It will be a pleasure, though, I am sure of that, and I think he is a great choice to unfurl the flag. He will get a tremendous reception from the fans and if he can help inspire us to get off to a flying start then so much the better." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Celtic's Paul McStay in action against Rangers in 1992. | SNS Group McCowan was part of the Dundee side that raised the Championship flag at Dens Park two years ago. Now he is relishing being part of Celtic's Premiership flag day in front of 60,000 fans having played his part in last season's title success with five goals and five assists in 29 league appearances. 'It will be a great day, for myself and for all the other guys," McCowan said. "I came here hoping to be able to help the club win the big prizes and the title win is a proud achievement. The same applies to the Championship win but obviously you want to progress your career as much as you can. "At the same time, we know we have a job because we want to start this league campaign off with a good performance." McCowan joined Celtic on a frantic transfer deadline day last year with the season already in full swing so he is looking forward to starting the new campaign without the stress of not knowing where his future lies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Yeah, if you looked at a picture of me last year and one today there are probably fewer wrinkles on my face now," he said. 'The whole process is quite taxing. It is not great when everyone is speculating about your future and you yourself don't know where you are going to be playing and what your contract situation is going to be.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Rangers transfer splurge doesn't interest Celtic star Luke McCowan
Midfielder is paying no attention to rivals' business as he looks to improve on last season after missing out at the final hurdle Luke McCowan insists he's not interested in Rangers' summer signing splurge - as he's focused only on completing a clean sweep with Celtic. Tottenham wonderkid Mikey Moore made it eight arrivals across the city on Friday and expectation is rising among the Rangers support that the new US revolution at Ibrox could herald a serious title fight. But McCowan says he'll not take any notice of new recruits elsewhere until he comes face to face with them on the park. Celtic are also closing in on an eighth signing of the window with Manchester City defender Jamai Simpson-Pusey set to finalise a loan deal. And, asked what he makes of their rivals' summer business, McCowan said: 'I honestly don't pay it any heed. I don't watch Sky Sports transfer shows or anything like that. 'I know about our new signings because they come into my place of work. 'Honestly, the first I will know of some of the ones other clubs have signed will be when I come up against them in a game! 'It is just the way I prefer to do to things. like to focus on myself, my fitness, my own game and beyond that my own club. 'Worrying about others and what they are, or are not, doing does not come into it.' McCowan and his team mates will look to get the season off to a flier on flag day at Parkhead against St Mirren on Sunday afternoon The 27-year-old made the switch to Parkhead from Dundee 12 months ago and was rewarded with Premiership title glory in May. But the season ended on a low note with the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Aberdeen. Despite McCowan netting his spot kick in the penalty shoot out, the Dons took advantage of Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston misses to lift the silverware. Now McCowan insists the only way to improve on that is to win everything on offer domestically. He said: 'Obviously you want to improve if you can. We won two trophies last season and that was great. 'This year we will start off looking to win all three, because that has to be the aim at this club, also to have a strong run in Europe. 'Within that, though, it is the old cliche about having to take each game in turn. 'So, we prepare for St Mirren and then we prepare for Aberdeen away the following week and then the next one.' Rangers are already three games ahead of the Hoops having kicked off their domestic campaign at Motherwell last night. That followed Russell Martin' s side impressively dealing with Panathinaikos over two legs to progress to the Champions League third qualifying round. McCowan admits watching their rivals plus Hibs and Dundee United in action across Europe has whetted the appetite for their own Champions League qualifying to get underway later this month. But he added: 'Yes it has, but it's just more to get back into competitive action full stop. 'The excitement to get back into action has been building, at the club and for me personally, and hopefully you will see the positive side of that on Sunday.'
