Gasperini's Push for Greenwood as Roma Targets Marseille Deal
Roma have made their intentions brutally clear: Mason Greenwood is the forward they want to build around, and Gian Piero Gasperini is personally driving the move over the line.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the Roma coach has already picked up the phone to speak directly with the 24-year-old, urging him to “wait” while the club put the final pieces of their approach to Marseille in place. No delegation, no intermediaries. The manager himself calling to make the pitch.
Gasperini’s impatience with his attacking options last season was no secret. Roma lacked a cutting edge in key moments of the 2025-26 campaign, and the former Manchester United forward has been identified as the solution, not a luxury. The fact the coach has intervened so directly underlines how central Greenwood is to the club’s tactical and sporting project as they aim to mount a genuine Serie A title push next year.
On the player’s side, the ground has already been prepared. Roma are understood to have reached an agreement on personal terms with Greenwood, who is described as keen on a move to the Stadio Olimpico. The proposed deal includes a tiered salary structure, starting at €4 million net per season, a clear sign that both parties see this as a long-term partnership rather than a short fling in the capital.
One potential rival has already faded from view. Fenerbahce, previously linked with a move for Greenwood, have seen their interest cool sharply following recent club elections. With the Turkish option receding, Roma’s path has opened up. Ownership have stepped in as well, with Ryan Friedkin reportedly in direct contact with the player’s camp to spell out the role Greenwood would occupy in Gasperini’s system and in the club’s broader sporting project.
Current Situation
The real fight now sits between the clubs’ accountants.
Despite Greenwood’s willingness to cross the Alps, Roma and Marseille remain apart on the fee. Marseille, under pressure to make a significant sale to stay on the right side of Financial Fair Play, are holding firm around a valuation of €55 million after the forward’s productive spell in Ligue 1. They need a headline sale and they know the market value of a 24-year-old attacker coming off a strong season.
Roma are preparing to test that resolve. The Italian side are expected to open with an offer of around €40 million including bonuses, a proposal designed to probe Marseille’s limits rather than meet them. Roma are also ready to discuss an initial loan with an obligation to buy, a structure that would ease their immediate outlay. The problem is obvious: Marseille want cash now, not staggered payments, to satisfy financial watchdogs.
Manchester United's Stake
Old Trafford is watching closely.
When Manchester United sold Greenwood to Marseille, they inserted a significant sell‑on clause. Any permanent transfer this summer would send a slice of the fee back to the Premier League club, handing them a welcome boost to their own summer budget as they attempt to reshape their squad.
Roma, aware of those layers in the deal, are even prepared to sweeten the pot in another way. Reports suggest the Giallorossi are willing to include a sell‑on clause of their own, potentially above 10 per cent, to help bridge the gap in valuation and tempt Marseille into compromising on the fixed fee.
While executives argue over percentages and payment structures, Greenwood’s actions hint at where this is heading. He has reportedly already begun the process of vacating his home in France, a practical step that suggests he expects his next chapter to be written away from Marseille.
Now it comes down to who blinks first: Marseille, under financial strain yet determined to cash in fully, or Roma, convinced they’ve found the forward to ignite Gasperini’s project and ready to push the deal as far as their budget – and their nerve – will allow.
