Mason Greenwood has completed his move to Fenerbahce, signing a four-year contract with the Turkish Super Lig club. The transfer comes after a dramatic collapse in negotiations with Atletico Madrid, where the Spanish side felt snubbed by the English forward's silence and lack of engagement with manager Diego Simeone.
Atletico Madrid's Bitter Exit from Greenwood Race
Atletico had positioned themselves as serious contenders for Greenwood, viewing the 24-year-old as the ideal long-term replacement for Antoine Griezmann. However, the club withdrew their interest after the forward's representatives became unresponsive during crucial negotiations. Simeone attempted multiple phone calls and messages to discuss the player's potential role at the Metropolitano, but received no replies for two consecutive days. The Colchoneros interpreted this silence as disrespectful and unprofessional, ultimately abandoning their pursuit despite tabling a €45 million offer.
Greenwood's conduct during his time at Marseille had already raised concerns about his professionalism. Reports indicate he caused internal friction at the French club through disciplinary breaches, including arriving late to team meetings and skipping mandatory sponsor commitments and language lessons. These issues reportedly created tension with sporting director Medhi Benatia and contributed to his departure from Ligue 1.
Fenerbahce Secures High-Profile Signing
The Istanbul outfit capitalized on Atletico's withdrawal to land the forward on favorable personal terms. While Fenerbahce's €39 million fee was lower than Atletico's offer, the financial package proved more attractive to Greenwood's camp. The transfer will be settled across three equal annual installments, with the player earning between €7-8 million per year net—a significant salary befitting his status as a headline acquisition.
Greenwood spent two prolific seasons in France, scoring 26 goals across all competitions in his final campaign with Marseille. His arrival in Turkey signals Fenerbahce's ambitions to challenge Galatasaray's domestic dominance and strengthen their squad ahead of Champions League qualifying matches against Polish side Gornik Zabrze later this month.
- Transfer fee: €39 million (payable over three years)
- Contract length: Four years
- Annual salary: €7-8 million net
- Marseille goals (last season): 26 across all competitions
This transfer illustrates how off-field conduct can derail even high-profile moves, with Greenwood's lack of responsiveness and reported disciplinary issues ultimately costing him a move to one of Europe's traditional powerhouses.
