Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is on a loan spell at La Liga side Getafe CF until the summer of 2024. Following serious criminal charges against him being dropped recently, he moved away from England to restart his club career in Spain.
A mutual agreement was reached between Greenwood and Manchester United regarding this decision. The 21-year-old’s future at the club appeared bleak due to backlash, therefore, it was in the best interest of both parties to let him go on loan from Old Trafford for the time being. Unfortunately for the player, ghosts from the past continue to shadow him even in Spain.
Greenwood faces offensive chant from Bilbao fans
Getafe made an away midweek trip to San Mamés, Bilbao, to face Athletic Club Bilbao in the game week 7 fixture of La Liga at their home, on Wednesday. The former Manchester United winger was handed his first start for the club since his arrival from Old Trafford.
Greenwood started his first game for the club and provided an assist in the match, which ended in an all-square 2-2 draw against Athletic Bilbao. Before this match, he came off the bench twice and made his cameo debut appearances.
However, the 21-year-old was the victim of offensive chants during the match by home fans who whistled at the player throughout the game and directed chants of ‘Greenwood die’ on various occasions. Even when his appearances were shown on the big screen, the home crowd was not pleased.
In the final minutes of the game, Getafe boss Jose Bordalas was sent off by the referee after a heated argument between Bordalas and Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams, following which ‘Getafe to Segunda’ was chanted by the home supporters.
Similar instances happened earlier when Greenwood made his debut appearance against Osasuna on 17 September, Sunday. An away section of fans also directed chants of ‘Greenwood die’, although La Liga addressed the issue under the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Spanish federation.
La Liga to hand stern punishment to Bilbao
Reportedly, the Spanish giants Athletic Bilbao could potentially face sanctions from La Liga due to derogatory slogans made by home fans, alongside Osasuna. However, an official announcement and the final decision are yet to be made by the Spanish League.
Following the incident, Getafe issued a statement condemning the actions of the Bilbao fans towards their player.
The club stated, “Getafe wants to express its total disapproval of the derogatory and intolerant chants, insults of particular gravity, which have been occurring with recurrence, during the disputed days of the National Championship of LaLiga EASports and that damage the image and also the morale of our players and coaches,” in a statement released on Thursday.
Mason Greenwood had received a warm welcome from the home fans of the Madrid-based club upon his presentation in front of fans and his partner, as it marked a refreshing change for the Englishman.
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