Fans vent anger after La LIga club Getafe announce signing Mason Greenwood from Premier League side Man Utd on Deadline Day.
The 21 year old Manchester United forward has joined the Spanish top-flight outfit on a season-long loan, just weeks after the Red Devils said Greenwood would part ways by mutual agreement after a six-month internal investigation.
It came after charges against the player, including attempted rape and assault, had been dropped in February.
Getafe are said to be paying a small portion of Greenwood’s wages, with the player’s contract at Old Trafford running until 2025.
📢 𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Mason Greenwood nuevo futbolista azulón
Welcome @masongreenwood! 🏴#VamosGeta #GreenwoodAzulon pic.twitter.com/3t9Dh9NSfL
— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF) September 1, 2023
El Coliseum hace unos minutos 💙🫶
Welcome, @masongreenwood 🏴 pic.twitter.com/n0gkktNRdB
— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF) September 1, 2023
Getafe said in their statement announcing his arrival: “Getafe Football Club has reached an agreement with Manchester United for the arrival of Mason Greenwood on loan for one season.
“Born in Bradford (England), he has been part of the youth ranks of the “Red Devils” since he was seven years old. The player has played more than 80 games in the Premier League, where he has been able to score a total of 22 goals.
“In addition, he has played 10 games in the Champions League with a total of 2 goals scored. On September 5, 2020 he made his debut for the England senior team.”
Man Utd wrote: “Mason Greenwood has signed for La Liga side Getafe CF on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance.
“The move enables Greenwood to begin to rebuild his career away from Manchester United.
“The club will continue to offer its support to Mason and his family during this period of transition.”
He has not played for United since being arrested in January 2022 following allegations surrounding material which was published online.
Greenwood was then charged in October 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
After he was arrested, Nike cut short its sponsorship deal with Greenwood and EA removed him from active squads on its FIFA 22.
After the charges were dropped in February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said key witnesses had withdrawn and new material had come to light, meaning there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”.
This led to Man Utd launching its own internal investigation into the player, before concluding: “All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.
“It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.
“Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged. That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.”
In a statement, Greenwood accepted he had “made mistakes” and took his “share of responsibility”, but added: “I did not do the things I was accused of.”
A group of female Man Utd supporters protested against his potential return to the first team set up outside Old Trafford prior to the Wolves game, and said they wanted the club to “demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach” towards violence against women.
The club said they delayed the decisino on his return as they wanted to consult with their women’s team, some of whom were part of England’s World Cup squad playing in Australia.
In an open letter to fans, chief executive Richard Arnold said: “While we were unable to access certain evidence for reasons we respect, the evidence we did collate led us to conclude that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with.”
He adds that Greenwood’s potential reintegration was “one of the outcomes we considered and planned for” but that “several outcomes have been contemplated and planned for” and his view “evolved”.
As mentioned, fans vent anger after Getafe announce the signing Mason Greenwood from Man Utd…
@AdamP1242: The womens World Cup final and this speaks volumes of how girls are looked at in Spanish football, grim signing
@TacticoModerno: Nothing would bring me more joy than seeing this club get relegated.
@MattDebonoAC: This is so, so grim.
@Forzabahab: You think your club have had a shit window, then you get reminded that there are levels to this game..
@TalkingTHFC: Never had a single opinion about Getafe until today. Disgraceful move.
@KieranCanning: Getafe’s social media celebration of the Greenwood deal, in this week of all weeks for Spanish football and its treatment of women, has been incredibly tone deaf
@SmnLlyd5: Why would you tweet this?
@AntonioMango4: With what happened at the Womens World Cup Final and now overlooking the camaraderie surrounding Mason Greenwood, speaks volumes about Spain right now
@SM_Kyle: I’ve never ever wanted a football team to fail as much as I do @GetafeCF this season. Horrible horrible cunts. 🇪🇸⚽️ #LaLiga
@MadridArchives: I speak for all football fans when I say I want Getafe relegated at the end of this season
Managing in La Liga in Football Manager 2024 https://t.co/CfkF1KqfQ5 pic.twitter.com/MqxP1XjZLP
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) September 1, 2023
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