Mason Greenwood was given a warm welcome by Getafe fans on Tuesday morning as he took part in his first training session at his new club.
Young fans shouted the name of the 21-year-old Manchester United forward as he exited the tunnel at the 16,500-capacity Estadio Coliseum Alfonso Pérez on the outskirts of Madrid.
Getafe published a video of the episode on their social media channels with the caption: “We love you, @masongreenwood.”
Greenwood has not played a competitive game of football since United’s 1-0 win over West Ham United on January 22 last year.
He was suspended by United shortly afterwards following the publication of a voice note and an image online.
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Greater Manchester police charged Greenwood with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in October last year, but the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges three months later due to the withdrawal of key witnesses. He denied all the charges against him.
United’s own investigation into Greenwood concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that he did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged, but the club decided that it was best for the player to restart his career away from Old Trafford.
His move to Getafe has faced a backlash within Spain, with a leading domestic abuse charity calling for the deal to be cancelled.
Ana Bella Estévez, of the Ana Bella Foundation, told The Mirror: “Getafe executives should never have hired Mason Greenwood and should immediately overturn their decision. If you’re a public-facing organisation there is no excuse to take a neutral stance on violence against women — you must take moral responsibility.”
On Tuesday Getafe published another video of Greenwood finding his new team-mates with a couple of tidy passes in a rondo.
Greenwood took part in drills with his team-mates
ISABEL INFANTES/PA WIRE
● Ian Hawkey: Why Man United wanted Mason Greenwood to play for Getafe
The watching supporters had been invited to the stadium to see the club’s new signings train.
Greenwood, who joined Getafe on deadline day, went through some stretches and shuttle runs in front of the crowd, which consisted mostly of youngsters, while wearing a training top with No 12, his new squad number, on it.
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It is understood that Greenwood will take part in a press conference on Tuesday evening.
On Monday night, the club posted a short video on X, formerly Twitter, in which their new signing addressed the club’s fans, saying: “Hi Getafe fans, it’s Mason here. I’m so happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started.”
United have made it clear that he will not play for them again. United are paying the vast majority of his wages for the duration of the loan and Getafe did not pay a fee.
Getafe are 14th in La Liga after four games. Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, scored a stoppage-time winner against them at the Bernabéu on Saturday.
Greenwood was not in the squad. It remains to be seen if he will feature in their next match, at home to Osasuna a week on Sunday.
