Mason Greenwood snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo for another former Manchester United team-mate when naming the best player he's worked with and chose Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate. While Greenwood briefly played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese striker's ill-fated second stint at Old Trafford, tensions reportedly ran high between the two as they struggled to build a successful playing relationship.
Getty Images SportA tense relationship with Ronaldo
Reports from inside Unitedās dressing room during Ronaldoās second coming painted a picture of a frustrated superstar. Without specifically naming Greenwood, Ronaldo, always known for his meticulous approach to football, expressed his dissatisfaction with the club's younger stars in public. He once said: "I donāt mean only in football, this new generation since probably 1995 they are thinking different. The life, the football, the struggles, this has to come from inside of you. You have to accept some times that you donāt agree with."
Meanwhile, Greenwood was spoken to by United officials for allegedly claiming behind the scenes that Ronaldo's career was "dead", according to .
AdvertisementAFPGreenwood picks Bruno over CR7
With manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struggling to get both players on the same page, it seemed inevitable that their partnership at United wouldnāt last. Ronaldo left the club in November 2022, while Greenwood was sold to Marseille last year after a loan spell at Getafe. United decided to part ways with Greenwood after an internal investigation into his conduct off the pitch, despite criminal charges against him being dropped in February 2023.
In a rapid fire with Marseille's media team this week, Greenwood was asked to name the best player heās ever shared a pitch with. He didnāt even flinch and answered Bruno Fernandes, another of his former United team-mates, who has been a constant creative presence on the field.
Greenwood has his say on GOAT debate
Greenwood also didnāt hesitate to choose Lionel Messi over Ronaldo in the ultimate āGreatest of All Timeā (GOAT) showdown. When asked to choose between the two legends of the game, he sided with the Argentine maestro. He then named his main idol as the Brazilian Ronaldo, a player whose brilliance in the late 1990s and early 2000s clearly left a lasting impression on Greenwood. When asked to name the best finisher he has seen, though, Greenwood opted for Harry Kane.
Greenwoodās flourishing career in France
Greenwoodās move to Marseille has proven to be a game-changer for the young forward. In his first season in Ligue 1, he netted 21 goals and provided six assists, finishing as joint-top scorer alongside Ousmane Dembele. This season, Greenwood hasnāt slowed down, already contributing three goals and four assists across nine matches in all competitions. His decisive goal in the Champions League against Real Madrid has only added to his growing reputation as a player capable of making a difference on the big stage.
