Jose Bordalas, manager of Getafe has defended the club’s decision to sign Mason Greenwood from Manchester United.
The English forward completed a last-minute deal to join the La Liga team, following a contentious exit from United due to an internal inquiry.
This investigation was initiated after allegations of attempted rape and manipulative behaviour against Greenwood were dropped in February, consequent to the withdrawal of key witnesses. Since being sidelined by United in January 2022 after his arrest, Greenwood has remained off the pitch but aims to revitalise his career in Spain.
When asked if signing Greenwood, who was not involved in the matchday squad at the Bernabeu, might prompt an unfavourable reaction, Getafe manager, Jose Bordalas said;
“It is a very delicate situation to trivialise this issue. Everyone knows what happened and the appropriate measures were taken; obviously, we can only talk about football.
“In terms of the other matters, I’m confident that the relevant bodies did what was necessary, and it ended with a non-conviction verdict. He’s now a free man, an exceptionally talented footballer, and he comes to Getafe full of enthusiasm. We’re certainly going to support him in returning to his top form.
“I’ve said all that needs to be said. I can only comment from a football perspective. His potential is evident to everyone. He’s a young lad, just 21, and we believe we can assist him in adapting to new circumstances,” Bordalas continued. “It’s a different league, but given his immense potential, if he attains good physical condition, I have every faith in him. We’ve been made aware that he’s keen to restore his professional standing, and Getafe is the right place for that.”
Greenwood was also in the running for a transfer to Serie A team Lazio on the final day of the transfer window. Lazio’s president, Claudio Lotito, laid the blame squarely on Manchester United for the deal’s collapse, asserting that Greenwood had been eager to make the switch.
