GOOD FOR US

La Liga chief hopes Greenwood stays in Spain

Greenwood has seven goals and five assists in 25 appearances for Getafe this season in all competitions.

In Summary

• "He is doing really well as a player and I hope he continues to stay in Spanish football. That is good for us."

• Greenwood joined Getafe on deadline day in September after Manchester United reversed an initial plan to keep the striker at the club following an internal investigation into his conduct that was triggered by the collapse of a legal case against him.

Mason Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 after the allegations emerged
Mason Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 after the allegations emerged
Image: PA MEDIA

La Liga president Javier Tebas says he hopes Manchester United's on-loan forward Mason Greenwood stays in Spanish football when his current spell with Getafe is over.

Greenwood joined Getafe on deadline day in September after Manchester United reversed an initial plan to keep the striker at the club following an internal investigation into his conduct that was triggered by the collapse of a legal case against him.

At the time, United said they felt it was better for Greenwood to play elsewhere and strongly hinted the England forward would never play for them again.

However, last week, United's new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe told BBC Sport it might be time to look at the situation again, without stating whether his preference was for Greenwood to return to the Old Trafford club or not.

Speaking to reporters after he had addressed the Financial Times Business of Football Conference in London, Tebas referenced his legal background to state he had no interest in judging Greenwood, although he claimed the 22-year-old had been found "innocent" rather than the charges being dropped.

"I am a lawyer," he said. "If someone came out of a legal case innocent there is nothing else to say.

"He is doing really well as a player and I hope he continues to stay in Spanish football. That is good for us."

When pressed further on the matter, Tebas said if a player had "not been condemned" it was not for La Liga to put him on trial.

"You should respect legal process," he said. "People might be condemning him in the press but you have to respect the legal decision. There is nothing else to talk about.

"He wasn't condemned [found guilty] here so I don't care."

Greenwood has seven goals and five assists in 25 appearances for Getafe this season in all competitions.

La Liga is currently investigating a formal complaint made by Getafe about a comment Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham is alleged to made towards Greenwood in a match between the two clubs on 1 February.

The incident came after England international Bellingham tackled Greenwood during Real's 2-0 win and a clip of the incident then went viral on social media.

La Liga has requested an expert lip-reading report but the investigation has yet to be concluded.

There have been some media reports that Greenwood wants the investigation dropped.

Speaking at the FT event about Bellingham's impact on La Liga, Tebas added: "He is not one of the best English players, he is the best English player at the moment.

"It is very important to have the best players in the world playing in La Liga. He brings value to the competition.

"I don't think anyone expected him to make the impact that he has. I hope he continues like that for many years."