17 September 2023 , 16:50
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Jose Bordalas has backtracked on his comments this week by confirming that Jude Bellingham did not advise Mason Greenwood to move to Spain.
Greenwood, 21, had been dealing with several criminal charges before they were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service earlier this year, freeing him up to resume his career. Manchester United opted not to reintegrate the player at Old Trafford, leaving him to seek pastures new.
Greenwood moved to Getafe late in the transfer window - a move which brought the LaLiga club significant backlash. Bellingham made a mega-money move to Real Madrid several months ago and knows Greenwood from their time in the international set-up.
Bordalas told RadioMarca earlier this week: “It was a surprise, we never thought we could get a player like that. But they got in touch with our sporting director [Ruben Reyes], we talked, we didn’t think it could happen but both sides made an effort [financially].”
The Getafe boss also added: “Greenwood is friends with Bellingham, and he advised him to come to the Spanish league.” Following his debut though the manager u-turned on his comments, explaining that was not the case.
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Bordalas confirmed after Greenwood's debut on Sunday: “I had said that Mason Greenwood came to Getafe because he had spoken with Jude Bellingham. They have clarified to me that it was not the case.”
Greenwood came off the bench to help his new side secure a 3-2 win over Osasuna. Their winner came in the 86th minute - nine minutes after the former United man was introduced by Bordalas.
It was suggested that Jude Bellingham encouraged Greenwood to make the move (NurPhoto via Getty Images)The club's sporting director Ruben Reyes has defended their decision to sign Greenwood, maintaining he is "just the same" as any other signing. “We did what we do: sign players that are available to sign,” he said earlier this month. “There is no need for us to handle anything [off the pitch]. We have signed a footballer who is just the same as Diego Rico and Oscar Rodriguez, and that’s it.
“We have to do our job, and that’s what we focus on. It is a year’s loan. It’s very difficult to get an option to buy on a player [like him]. He will be here all season. There are internal discussions [between the clubs] but those are small details that we try not to share.
“They [United] appreciated the effort, how convinced we were. We’re very excited with him. He was a player that we knew was out there. We worked on it, gathered information and bit by bit we saw that there could be a possibility."