Former Tottenham star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has NOT refused to play alongside Mason Greenwood, according to club chief Mehdi Benatia. The former Manchester United striker has enjoyed a positive first season on the pitch at the Stade Veldorome since moving to France.
Greenwood, 23, has 17 goals in all competitions this term but it was recently suggested that not all was well behind the scenes at the French side. It was suggested that ex-Spurs midfielder Hojbjerg and teammate Adrien Rabiot had gone to the club’s director of football, Benatia, to suggest that both Greenwood and Brazilian winger Luis Henrique should be removed from the squad.
But the Moroccan has dismissed those claims with an angry response. “Can you imagine?,” Benatia said to La Provence. “He didn’t come to see me. And what’s more, do you think I need a player to tell me that?
“Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is one of the most professional in the locker room, a guy who only wants to unite and carry everyone along with him, like Rabiot.
“Today, Adri is dying inside, he only wants one thing: to reach the Champions League. These two are truly two examples, and at no point did they come to see me to dismiss Luis Henrique or Greenwood. The people who say that don’t want the best for OM.”
Despite Benatia affirming that the Hojbjerg claims are not true, there does appear to be some issues at Marseille. The French giants have lost five out of their last seven games and are now under severe threat of falling out of the Champions League places.
Meanwhile, Greenwood has scored just one goal in his last five league appearances, while he was also dropped from the starting line-up. But Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi suggested last month that Greenwood was simply adapting to his demands at the club and has backed Greenwood to become a legendary player for the French side.
“Greenwood is a natural talent,” he said. “All the credit goes to his mother and father. And I’m here to help him become more complete. When he needs a hug, a word of support, I gladly give it. And when I need to push him to give more, I have to do that too because that’s my job.”
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“I would especially like to help him be remembered, in this stadium and by these supporters, as one of the greatest players to have played here at the Velodrome,” he added.
“There have been so many great players here, but I think Greenwood has the qualities to be remembered that way. And I’m trying to help him progress.”
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