23 January 2024 , 16:03
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Barcelona are leading the race to sign Mason Greenwood.
Greenwood, 22, is currently on loan at La Liga side Getafe and has scored five goals this season. Yet he will need to complete a permanent transfer at the end of the term after his parent club Manchester United confirmed he will not play for them again.
United and Greenwood mutually agreed to part ways after the Premier League side conducted an internal review amid serious allegations. The England forward was arrested in January 2022 and later charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. All charges were dropped in February 2023.
Greenwood, who has 18 months remaining on his United deal, has been linked with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid since leaving Old Trafford. Getafe are also interested in signing him on a long-term contract once his loan deal expires in June.
But a source has told The Sun that Greenwood's preference is a 'dream move' to Barcelona. No agreement has been reached at this time, but United are determined to sell the player. "The view is that it is best for all parties to have a clean break," the source said.
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The Red Devils are thought to want around £40million for Greenwood, with add-ons included in any sale. The source claims the star is "focused on further making a name for himself in La Liga" by finishing the season strongly, with Getafe 10th in the table.
It's claimed Barcelona "think Greenwood would also be an exciting signing for the fans" and have "sent scouts to watch him six times". The reports have been "overwhelmingly positive".
The source also claims Greenwood wants to play for England again in the future. He won his only senior cap against Iceland in September 2020 but was sent home after breaking Covid guidelines. The forward is also eligible to represent Jamaica.
Greenwood's hopes of playing for Manchester United again are non-existent (Robbie Jay Barratt/Getty Images)Do you think Mason Greenwood will join Barcelona? Let us know in the comments below!
Although Barcelona are leading the race for Greenwood's signature, Getafe are keen to keep him in Madrid. Getafe boss Jose Bordalas said last month: "We are happy and content because we have a great player, he is a good boy, he has fitted in really well."
Greenwood also told Getafe's YouTube channel earlier this month: "Everything's fine. I adapted pretty quickly. Team-mates took me under their wing and I've just been happy ever since, coming here and training, playing the games. I'm happy."
He added: "The fans mean a lot to me. The best feeling so far is when I scored my first goal here at the stadium and it meant a lot to me, I heard the fans quite a lot. Also we had the training day and a lot of fans came out to watch so we always appreciate the fans. They’re like an extra man out there on the pitch when they’re out there supporting us."