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Mason Greenwood is flying just outside Madrid.

For the Spanish top-flight team Getafe, that was the plan all along. To have a rare star for the modest yet ardent crowd inside the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez to enjoy. It’s never had such a player on its hands, someone with power, pace, and potential in abundance. Now it does, and he’s one reason why Getafe is overachieving—sitting pretty in La Liga’s top half as 2023 draws to a close.

Of course, that’s only half the picture. The Greenwood-Getafe synergy marks one of the most controversial events in Spanish soccer this year. Getafe took a punt before the season, recruiting the 22-year-old on loan from Manchester United following a media-feeding frenzy. Greenwood had faced charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive behavior.—allegations he has denied. And charges that were dropped.

From a sporting point of view, it was a no-brainer. But it was a huge PR gamble, especially considering most teams were not open to signing the winger. Getafe’s strategy has seemingly been to let the noise die down after a few months. By which point, it has profited from his skills, a jersey supposedly selling more than any other player in Getafe history, and a handy 20% sell-on clause in his deal, The Athletic reports. In summary, Los Azulones have been content brushing aside any baggage.

Owning Greenwood has represented a potential problem for elite clubs, however. Real Madrid and Barcelona are magnets to big brands and have high-stakes commercial—and global fan relationships—to protect. For one, Nike—Barcelona’s kit supplier—no longer has sponsorship ties with the player, so moving to a club like Barça would have caused a headache. Getafe, more local than global and with fewer X followers than any La Liga side, doesn’t have as much to lose on that front.

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If sensing a chance to spread Getafe’s name, for the better or worse, was the club’s aim, it’s gained without spending a dollar in transfer fees. One of a cluster of Madrid area clubs, Getafe lacks the funds to compete at the top, but its competitive profile has evolved thanks to the number 12. He adds something fresh to coach José Bordalas’ bullish, limited options—a different threat to Borja Mayoral, Jaime Mata, and Juanmi Latasa in the final third. It’s a better prospect with him, even though reaching a European tournament may be a hurdle too high.

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Greenwood plays at his own pace. Double the speed of his teammates at times. He’s a turbo-charged forward with an angry, seething strike. Even the Atlético Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann revealed he and his teammates struggled to contain him in a 3-3 thriller between the sides. “We couldn’t stop him, and it cost us the game,” he remarked. Here was a performance from someone who, before the Getafe switch, hadn’t kicked a ball competitively for a year and a half.

It’s all a bizarre reality. Nobody could have imagined someone like Greenwood, developed at one of European soccer’s most glamorous names, eventually pulling the strings at a largely middle-of-the-road team on the Iberian peninsula, where English players don’t usually wash up. Fellow countryman Jude Bellingham, the man of the moment week after week, has also deflected the gaze from Greenwood’s endeavors in Spain.

Not that he and those in blue will care. Amidst this, he appears calm and focused. It’s now his team, even if the road wasn’t first supposed to lead this way. Meanwhile, Getafe is open to a permanent transfer. “Him staying with us? We will look at whatever possibility, even buying him,” club president Ángel Torres said earlier this month. In connection with the 20% sell-on bonus should he join another club, Getafe would only pay 80% of any transfer fee if he stays and commits.

If that transpires, the Greenwood experiment will have been successful—certainly through Getafe’s eyes. On the outside, it would be naïve to assume the noise and controversy around the soccer talent’s career will fully fade away. That’s what the team signed up for, after all.

In the wake of fan and staff anger, Manchester United decided against reintroducing Greenwood to the first squad. Instead, they sent him out on loan to La Liga side Getafe on the day of the transfer deadline.

Five goals in 15 games for the Azulones has led many to believe that the former England striker is beginning to reclaim his peak performance. As a result, scouts are swarming to see him play.

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Currently, Greenwood’s return to United is due next summer. Nevertheless, he is about to be permanently sold after being told that he has no future with the club.

The end of the 2024-25 season will mark the conclusion of his contract with the Old Trafford team. Thus, a permanent deal for the Red Devils academy product has been on the agenda at Getafe.

Financial concerns for Getafe

But, according to a recent story in the Daily Mail, the Spanish side are worried that they wouldn’t be able to afford the transfer fee. When they signed Greenwood in the summer, they worked out a season-long loan with a penalty provision that would cost United $273,000 if he returned to the club in January.

Additionally, in the event that the Premier League side sell the player to another club, Getafe would also get 20 percent of the fee. But since things have gone swimmingly for Getafe in Madrid, they are looking for ways to hold on to him beyond the current season.

At the same time, his form has been unexpectedly strong, drawing attention from other squads. And a transfer to one of the three most successful teams in Spanish soccer may soon be in the works.

Greenwood sparks fight between La Liga top 3

Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly want to sign the 22-year-old, via talkSPORT. After losing Karim Benzema, Los Blancos are still short in attack. Furthermore, Joselu, who has played for Stoke and Newcastle, doesn’t seem like a long-term solution.

On the other hand, their arch-rivals, the Blaugrana may want to augment their offensive options shortly, given they now only have 35-year-old Robert Lewandowski a natural striker. The youngster is being monitored by more than just the El Clasico adversaries, though.

The player apparently has Atletico Madrid’s attention. He is a target for next summer after an outstanding performance at the Wanda Metropolitano. It was reported by Mundo Deportivo.

His latest performance in the Spanish top division was outstanding, as he scored a goal and assisted on another. In fact, the United ace helped Getafe rally from a 3-0 deficit to earn a 3-3 draw vs Atletico.

Since then, everyone has been singing the winger’s praises, and Atletico star Antoine Griezmann is no exception. The Frenchman said that the Red Devils loanee “hurt them a lot” all game long.

It is very unlikely that he would join another English team. However, rumors have circulated that Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation.

Photo credits: IMAGO / Pressinphoto : IMAGO / PA Images

Athletic Bilbao are facing potential sanctions from La Liga after supporters directed offensive chants at Getafe’s Mason Greenwood.

The forward, who played the entire match on Wednesday, is on loan at the Spanish club from Manchester United.

During Getafe’s trip to San Mames, chants of “Greenwood, die” were heard when the 21-year-old took free kicks. He was also whistled at by the home crowd during the 2-2 draw when his face appeared on the screen and names were being read out pre-game.

Other offensive chants were audible, including “Getafe to Segunda” during the final stages, after an on-pitch confrontation between Getafe coach Jose Bordalas and Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams, which saw Bordalas shown a red card by the referee.

La Liga has confirmed that the chants were heard at the match and that they will follow the same process as to what happened in the Osasuna game 10 days ago.

La Liga’s official match observer heard the chants of “Greenwood, die” from a section of Osasuna’s away support with a report from the league confirming the incident is among a list of cases which could now result in disciplinary action by the Spanish football federation and government.

Athletic Bilbao did not comment when contacted by The Athletic.

Getafe released a statement on Thursday to condemn the chants, saying that they have “always been known for being a team that respects organisations, rivals and other members of the soccer world” and that “the time has come to raise our voice and defend the honourability of our players and coaches”.

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They said: “Getafe wants to express its total disapproval of the derogatory and intolerant chants, insults of particular gravity, which have been occurring with recurrence, during the disputed days of the National Championship of LaLiga EASports and that damage the image and also the morale of our players and coaches.

“Insulting chants, out of any civic context, aggravated with criticism that we respect as freedom of expression, from a sporting point of view, but that we do not share when that critical current is attributed with derogatory epithets, insults and disrespect to the members of the staff and coaching staff of Getafe. Likewise, we ask for comradeship, with their statements, among the actors that make up the passionate world of soccer.

“We cannot remain immobile and as mere observers, especially when this current of opinion seeks to condition the refereeing collective and its possible decision making. A behaviour, reiterated in this start of LaLiga EA Sports that we observe with incredulity and that is out of all place.

“The players and coaches of Getafe, as professionals of the highest level, participate in this show and are aware of the media loudspeaker that playing in the best league in the world represents. But, beyond that, they are people with feelings, who have family and friends who suffer with them and deserve the respect that we ask for without fissures in this communication.

“All this seriously damages the image of our club, the competition and the professionals who are part of it.

“Getafe has always been known for being a team that respects organisations, rivals and other members of the soccer world. But, seeing the seriousness of the facts, the time has come to raise our voice and defend the honourability of our players and coaches.”

Getafe say that their statement is not just focused on the chants against Greenwood, adding that it is a defence on an institutional level, for the references made to the club, its coach and the players.

Getafe are 10th in La Liga.

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(Photo: Ricardo Larreina/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Mason Greenwood has picked up a La Liga award following his recent run of form for loan club Getafe. The Manchester United loanee has established himself as a key player for the side since he joined them last summer.

Greenwood has three goals and four assists in 12 La Liga starts this season, which is understood to have led to interest from a number of high-profile clubs in his signature.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a particularly fruitful December, which included arguably his best game in a Getafe shirt when he scored a goal and set up another against Sevilla.

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Greenwood has now been rewarded for his recent performances by being voted Player of the Month for Getafe, as voted for by fans from across La Liga.

Jugador Cinco Estrellas asks supporters to vote for the best player from the top clubs in La Liga, with Greenwood beating four of his teammates to win the monthly award for the first time this season.

Greenwood has been strongly linked with a permanent move to Spain in recent weeks, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona both credited with interest in his signature. The Bradford-born forward has not played for United since January 2022, after allegations were made against him on social media that month.

United conducted an internal investigation after the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February last year that it had dropped charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control. United informed Greenwood that he would have to resume his career elsewhere in August.

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In a surprising turn of events, the 21-year-old signed a season-long loan with the Spanish club Getafe after it was determined he would no longer play for United. The agreement provided the striker with a last-ditch opportunity to save his career after a string of failed Deadline Day deals.

In January 2022, Greenwood was booted off the team after charges of domestic violence surfaced against him. His girlfriend also claimed the player was responsible for the bruises and wounds she displayed online.

Fan outrage in the summer led to the decision that he would not rejoin Erik ten Hag’s team. However, the club would assist him in finding another club to play for. Thus, in the waning hours of the summer transfer deadline, the youngster officially completed his transfer to the Spanish club.

When will Greenwood make Getafe debut in La Liga?

Since then, the Manchester United loanee has begun training with his new team in preparation for his 19-month-long comeback to competitive soccer. The Englishman may even make his debut on Saturday against Osasuna.

However, it is believed that his coach would not push him too hard too soon considering he has not played since December 2021. “He is a fantastic player but we have to be patient with him. He is integrating very well,” Getafe coach Jose Bordalas told RadioMarca.

Bellingham advised striker to join him in Spain

Getafe’s manager also claims that Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham had a role in Mason Greenwood’s decision.

“It was a surprise, we never thought we could get a player like that. But they got in touch with our sporting director [Ruben Reyes], we talked, we didn’t think it could happen but both sides made an effort [financially],” he added.

“It’s a deal that perhaps would not have happened without the help of Jude Bellingham. Greenwood is friends with Bellingham, and he advised him to come to the Spanish league.”

Photo credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto