Mason Greenwood welcomed by Getafe fans in first training session since controversial move
Manchester United announced last month that the 21-year-old forward would continue his career away from the club
![Mason Greenwood in training at Getafe for the first time](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/09/05/10/edf5ef232105e1feae811af23d4c3d4dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjkzOTkwNTc1-2.73608479.jpg)
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
Mason Greenwood has trained with Getafe for the first time and been welcomed by fans following his loan move from Manchester United.
United announced last month that the 21-year-old, who will be officially presented as a Getafe player on Tuesday evening, would be continuing his career away from the club.
Greenwood was suspended by the Old Trafford club on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
Greenwood faced charges including attempted rape and assault, but the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February that the case had been discontinued.
Reports that United were planning to retain him following an internal investigation were met by a public outcry and on September 1 it was confirmed he would head to Spain for the season.
Getafe have been promoting Greenwood’s arrival heavily on social media and, in a video message on X, formerly known as Twitter, the once-capped England forward said: “Hi Getafe fans, it’s Mason here. I’m so happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started.”
![Mason Greenwood trains at Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Perez](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/09/05/11/SOCCER%20Greenwood%20%2009161247.jpg)
![Fans welcome Greenwood to Getafe training](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/09/05/11/SOCCER%20Greenwood%20%2010244448.jpg)
![Greenwood in action during the session](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/09/05/11/SOCCER%20Greenwood%20%2010081686.jpg)
Other posts showed Greenwood, who last played a competitive match back in January 2022, coming out of the tunnel to applause from fans in the stadium before taking part in an open training session.
Speaking at a press conference following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid – a match Greenwood was not involved in – Getafe boss Jose Bordalas said of the allegations against the forward: “It is a very delicate situation to trivialise that issue.
“Everyone knows what happened and appropriate measures were taken. Everyone knows how it ended, with a non-convictory sentence.
“He is a footballer of a very high level and arrives at Getafe with enormous enthusiasm. Surely he wants to recover his professional status and Getafe can help him in that sense.”
Asked if signing Greenwood might prompt an unfavourable reaction, Bordalas added: “I can only speak at a footballing level.
“We all know the potential he has. He is a very young boy and we hope that he adapts to a very different League. Surely he wants to recover his professional status and Getafe can help him in that sense.”
A product of United’s academy, Greenwood scored 35 goals in 129 matches for the Red Devils.
Greenwood is contracted at Old Trafford until June 2025, with the deal including an option to extend by a further year.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments