The disgraced Manchester United striker has rediscovered his best form in La Liga, and a move to one of Spain's biggest clubs beckons in the summer
When Mason Greenwood left Manchester United last summer over 18 months after being arrested and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, his footballing ability was largely left out of the discussion in the media.
Even though all charges against him had been dropped six months previously and United concluded in their internal investigation that the striker "did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged,” the shocking images and audio that had been seen and heard by large sections of the public weighed too heavily.
Greenwood's qualities as a striker, his ability to score from impossible angles, his two-footedness, the fact he was United's youngest goalscorer in European football and potentially worth over £100 million ($126m), were deemed to be of secondary importance.
But in Spain, where Greenwood has rekindled his career on loan at Getafe, the opposite is true. After an initial focus on his past misdemeanours, all talk of the striker's previous offences has practically disappeared. Instead, there has been a sense of astonishment at how talented he is and a sense of disbelief that Getafe have been able to get him.
Getty Impressing Griezmann
After a period of adaptation having not trained or played for almost two years, Greenwood has rediscovered the form that made him such an exciting prospect as a teenager, a player who, until his arrest in January 2022, was expected to lead United's attack for the next decade.
Since the start of November, he has scored two Liga goals – his superb strike against Almeria was the best of his career – and set up a further three. He was crucial to Getafe's rampant 3-0 win away to Sevilla, scoring and providing an assist, and a week later against Atletico Madrid he stole the show.
Greenwood inspired Getafe to come from two goals down to draw 3-3 at their local rivals and was singled out for praise by Antoine Griezmann, who remarked: "Greenwood hurt us a lot, we couldn't stop him."
He was named Player of the Month for December, and while he has had a quiet start to 2024, getting sent off at Rayo Vallecano and drawing a blank in a Copa del Rey exit to Sevilla, the overall sensation is that he is an outstanding footballer who any top side would want in their team.
AdvertisementGetty Images'Talking about his ability'
"I don't remember a player of Greenwood's quality in the Getafe squad in recent years, I can assure you there's no player like him in terms of talent and quality," a source who follows Getafe closely told GOAL. "The fans have not cared from the first moment about his off-the-pitch issues, they are super excited about him and his football. You see people wearing shirts with his name and number on everywhere."
Getafe supporters are not the only ones in Spain who have given Greenwood the benefit of the doubt. With each stunning performance, the reason he spent so long suspended by United has barely been mentioned.
"It has been forgotten about," the source, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, added. "Although people remember what happened, which is not forgivable, people are mostly saying 'What a player'. He was the main reason they fought back at Atletico Madrid, the media are still talking about that game, they are talking more about his ability than his off-the-pitch activities."
Getty Images'We took a bet on him'
When Getafe coach Jose Bordalas learned his side could sign Greenwood on transfer deadline day, he literally couldn't believe his luck. "A friend called me to tell me about the possibility and at first we thought it wasn't real, but he confirmed that it was," he told in December.
"We had to have a lot of patience, with a lot of tranquility, we were aware that he had been a long time without playing and practically without training. But we trusted him because of his talent, because of the level he has had.
"To be able to sign a player of this level at Getafe is complicated, almost impossible. And well, given the situation, we bet on him. We are happy and satisfied because we have a great player. He is a good lad and has fit in very well and he only needs to learn a little more Spanish."
'Good lad' is not a phrase many people in England were using to describe Greenwood when it emerged that United wanted to reintegrate the striker into their squad last August. Television personality Rachel Riley declared she would stop supporting United if Greenwood played for the club again, while two female fans told GOALthey would also stop going to matches if he returned. Andrew Western, the Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston, also spoke out against the club's handling of the situation.
GettyFew dissenting voices
The public outrage, as well as discontent among club staff, ultimately led United to make a U-turn on their decision to reintegrate Greenwood, leading them to arrange a loan instead. Yet there has been hardly any outcry in Spain against Getafe signing Greenwood, even amid a heightened awareness over consent and domestic violence following the furore over Luis Rubiales' unsolicited kiss on Jenni Hermoso after the Women's World Cup final.
Although former Spain women's player Vero Boquete called Greenwood's signing "hypocritical" and there were a small number of critical opinion pieces in newspapers, Greenwood's legal case did not take up a great deal of media attention.
The same has been true of rival fans. Osasuna's fans chanted "Greenwood die" on his debut, but they were condemned for doing so by Bordalas and by La Liga. Athletic Club supporters booed Greenwood in September, but he has received little negative attention since.