Getafe’s grateful ‘Hola’ for Mason Greenwood comes as no surprise

On Tuesday evening, as fans started heading towards the exits and the music was finally turned down, Getafe’s sporting director stood pitch side at the Coliseum and insisted that Mason Greenwood is just a footballer, the same as any other he could have signed. Rubén Reyes said the Manchester United forward, who has not played since he was charged with attempted rape, coercive behaviour and assault in October 2022, is no different to Óscar Rodríguez and Diego Rico, who had been presented alongside him. But he knew that was not true and so did everyone there: Greenwood is better.

Which was why the sporting director could reflect on his success, the excitement. He need only look at the supporters who came for the presentation, maybe even the fact there was a presentation at all. Five days after Greenwood’s signing on loan, there was still surprise, shock, disbelief. The question was asked: what is he doing here? But this wasn’t about rejection, and inside the ground there was celebration rather than unease. It was about them getting a footballer this good. United players just don’t go to Getafe.

Those charges, denied by the player and dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February, are why the loan move was possible, another reason that acting as if the issue is not there does not really wash, although that’s what many are doing.

With their internal investigation concluded and, more importantly, the social outcry felt, United eventually decided Greenwood should move on and many clubs would not touch him, although Lazio’s president, Claudio Lotito, admitted he had tried. Instead it was the smaller club who finally got him, six minutes before midnight.

“We knew he was a player who was out there. Working on it, gathering information bit by bit, we saw there could be a possibility and in the end we were able to convince him to come here, to trust in us,” Reyes said. “We spoke to his family, to his dad, for a long time. We’re very satisfied.”

Greenwood comes for “the whole season”, Reyes stressed – and there are conditions attached, although the sporting director did not wish to share them. One was revealed on the first day: Greenwood would face no media questions. Nor would Ángel Torres, who a week before had demanded the resignation of Luis Rubiales. Two days earlier, the coach José Bordalás, thrust into the role of spokesperson, had described it as “too delicate a subject to treat lightly”. Now, the presentation over, Reyes spoke, too.

Asked if there had been any reservations, for a view on the accusations, Reyes replied: “There is nothing to say because the person who had to speak has had their say, and that’s a judge [sic]: the highest authority. We did what we do: sign players that are available to sign.” Nor, he insisted, were there concerns over a backlash or any particular obligation to protect the player. “There is no need for us to handle anything,” he said. “A judge has spoken, and clearly. We have signed a footballer, just the same as Diego Rico and Óscar Rodríguez, and that’s it.”