Mason Greenwood was met with chants calling for him to die during his Getafe debut.
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The Manchester United forward was featuring in a competitive match for the first time in 18 turbulent months which culminated in his boyhood club’s decision to send him on loan, rather than reintegrate him back into the first team squad.
Greenwood came on as a second half substitute with 25 minutes remaining and forced the corner from which his new side scored their winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Osasuna.
The visiting fans subjected the 21-year-old to chants of ‘Greenwood, muerete!’ [Greenwood die] in relation to the charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault he faced in in October 2022.
Greenwood shrugged off the abuse to put in a polished performance that was acknowledged by his new manager Jose Bordalas.
‘Mason is a great player, we have a lot of trust in him and I think it will be very positive for Getafe and for Spanish football,’ he said.
‘We’re pleasantly surprised by him. Today was a difficult game that was very back and forth. He helped us in attack and in defence too.
‘He showed solidarity with his team, and he surprised us [physically]. We are still working with him, as he has gone many months without playing. We will talk this calmly.
‘I imagine today will have been special for him and he will have the satisfaction of feeling like a footballer again. What a footballer wants is to compete, to play.’
Bordalas added: ‘I only talk about the sporting side of things. Today what I take with me is the expectation of the fans, because he is a great player. We are happy [with him].
‘He has integrated well, taking into account how little time he has been here. It’s true that the language is a handicap but we are helping him a lot.
‘He is taking lessons with a teacher and we are trying to accelerate his Spanish. His behaviour has been very good.
‘He comes with enthusiasm and the desire to improve.’
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