Mason Greenwood is reportedly close to agreeing a move to a club in Turkey, according to recent reports. While the specific club has not been named, discussions are said to be at an advanced stage, potentially bringing an end to a period of uncertainty for the former Manchester United forward. Greenwood has not played professionally since January 2022, following the dropping of criminal allegations against him.
This potential transfer comes amid a busy schedule of Champions League qualifying matches, with several first-round ties completed on Tuesday evening. Notably, Hearts, who finished as surprise contenders in the Scottish Premiership last season, suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Sturm Graz. The Austrian side demonstrated their European experience with a dominant performance, eliminating Hearts from the competition.
Elsewhere, Étoile Rouge Belgrade also secured a convincing away win, defeating Larne of Northern Ireland 4-0. Lech Poznań also impressed with a 4-1 victory over AGF Aarhus in Denmark. Swiss champions FC Thoune managed a respectable 1-1 draw against Dinamo Zagreb, while Fenerbahçe secured a narrow 1-0 win at home to Górnik Zabrze. Slovan Bratislava also achieved a 2-0 away win against Saburtalo of Georgia.
The results from the first qualifying round see several teams progressing, while others, like Hearts, face elimination. For Greenwood, a move to Turkey would offer him the opportunity to restart his career in a competitive league, although the circumstances surrounding his departure from Manchester United remain a sensitive topic. The transfer would likely be welcomed by the Turkish club, who are increasingly becoming a destination for players seeking a fresh start or a new challenge. A successful spell in Turkey could potentially open doors to a return to a top European league in the future.
