After Greenwood's quadruple, is Manchester United ready to spend 100 million to buy him back? Revealing the chances of returning to the Premier League, with a higher possibility of going back to La Liga.

Mason Greenwood scored four goals in Marseille's 6-2 victory over Le Havre this weekend, etching his name into the club's history. The 24-year-old became the first Marseille player since French legend Jean-Pierre Papin to net four goals in a Ligue 1 match. Papin achieved this feat in January 1991 during Marseille's 7-0 win over Lyon, 35 years ago.

Since joining Marseille from Manchester United for €31.6 million, Greenwood has scored 27 goals in Ligue 1, making him the highest-scoring British player in the league since Glenn Hoddle. Hoddle, who played for Monaco between 1987 and 1991, also scored the same number of goals, and it’s only a matter of time before Greenwood surpasses him.

Greenwood’s goals came in various styles, including a right-footed penalty, a left-footed cut-in shot, a quick strike under pressure, and a poacher’s finish. "I was almost crazy with joy," he said after the match, holding up four fingers alongside fellow Manchester United academy graduate Angel Gomes. "I had never scored a hat-trick before, so scoring four goals feels amazing."

Spanish outlet "Fichajes" quickly reported that Manchester United is prepared to spend €100 million (£86.8 million) to buy Greenwood back from Marseille. According to the report, United holds a 50% sell-on clause in Greenwood’s contract, but the club is not satisfied with just a share of the fee; they want to regain ownership of the talented striker.

Spanish media state that Manchester United values Greenwood not only for his performance in Ligue 1 but also for his enhanced image and potential commercial appeal. Marseille does not consider Greenwood unsellable, but they have clearly stated they will only accept truly high offers.

Greenwood, who is equally skilled with both feet, scored 21 goals last season in Ligue 1, sharing the top scorer spot with Ousmane Dembélé. This season, he has performed even better, contributing to 11 goals in 10 matches across all competitions, including 7 goals and 4 assists. He currently ranks second in Ligue 1 scoring behind Strasbourg’s Joaquín Paničelli and leads the league in assists.

However, the likelihood of Manchester United repurchasing Greenwood for €100 million is low. Firstly, United already has wingers like Mbemou and Amad Diallo, with total spending exceeding £100 million. Therefore, from both tactical and financial perspectives, signing Greenwood for €100 million is unnecessary, as Amolin needs a midfielder more urgently.

Moreover, although multiple serious allegations against Greenwood, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in February 2023, his domestic violence is undeniable. If Greenwood returns to Manchester United, both he and the club would face intense criticism from the British media. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s leadership, and any Premier League club are unlikely to risk public and private backlash by re-signing him.

Considering how Manchester United handled Greenwood, he probably does not want to come back either. However, Greenwood’s agent might use the rumors around United to attract interest from other top clubs. The narrative "Manchester United regrets selling him" is a very appealing promotional point. It is said he is more likely to return to La Liga, having previously been loaned to smaller Madrid clubs and Getafe by United.

According to "The Terrace Stand," Barcelona scouts watched Greenwood’s four-goal performance on Saturday. Hans Flick’s team might part ways with Lewandowski next year, so they are closely monitoring several forwards, including Atlético Madrid’s Argentine striker Álvarez. Buying Rashford, who was loaned from United, is also part of the plan. Thus, the two controversial Manchester United academy players might reunite at Camp Nou, flying on both wings.

Atlético Madrid is also very interested in Greenwood. Like Barcelona, Diego Simeone has been monitoring him since Greenwood played for Getafe and had considered signing him.

Marseille coach De Zerbi said: "Mason (Greenwood) has the ability to become one of the best players in the world. He is extremely talented but still needs to contribute more to the team. I want to protect him because I don’t like seeing him criticized. He has scored many goals, never missed training, and still has room to grow."

Marseille club president Pablo Longoria admitted that signing Greenwood was indeed a risk. Marseille mayor Benoît Payan publicly opposed the transfer, stating: "I don’t want my club to be shamed because of someone who assaulted his girlfriend."

Regarding the deal, Longoria commented: "We analyzed the market situation; you know he is very talented, and it was a possibility. At the time, only one person at the discussion table disagreed. After the transfer, time will tell. You know, today, everything has settled."