Greenwood Refuses to Play and Demands Exit from Fenerbahçe After Clash with President

Mason Greenwood has requested to leave Fenerbahçe following an altercation with club president Aziz Yıldırım and refused to play in the recent match against Göztepe, according to reports on Monday. The 23-year-old English striker, signed for €39 million from Olympique de Marseille last summer, has been in Istanbul for only a few months.

The breaking point came after the derby against Galatasaray, which Fenerbahçe lost 2-1. Greenwood, quiet throughout the match, was substituted off in the 55th minute by manager Ismail Kartal — who himself was sidelined the following day. Summoned by Yıldırım afterward, the former Manchester United prospect was reminded that no Premier League club wanted to sign him and that his salary was completely out of line with Turkish Super Lig standards. Greenwood took these remarks badly and tasked his father with finding him a way out before the winter transfer window.

Yet the 23-year-old striker’s start to the season was not catastrophic statistically: 4 goals in Super Lig and 3 in the UEFA Champions League since his arrival at a squad that also includes Milan Škriniar, N’Golo Kanté, Matteo Guendouzi, Marco Asensio and Romelu Lukaku. But his ghostly performance in the derby apparently was enough to crystallize tensions.

Other Fenerbahçe executives attempted to defuse the crisis by suggesting a translation error in the president’s remarks, without managing to convince the player. Greenwood ultimately withdrew from the match against Göztepe last weekend, officially due to flu.

Last summer, the English international had chosen Istanbul over Atlético de Madrid and AS Roma, two clubs directly qualified for the UEFA Champions League. His future at Fenerbahçe now appears to hinge on the opening of the winter transfer window.