Mason Greenwood has been given the green light to sign for Juventus – five years after they reportedly offered him life-changing money to leave Manchester United.
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at La Liga side Getafe after an internal investigation at United determined it best for all parties that he continue his career elsewhere. He hasn’t played for his boyhood club since being arrested in January 2022 for attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
Those charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service 13 months later, and Greenwood returned to the professional game in Spain. He registered 10 goals and six assists across 36 games in all competitions, attracting significant transfer attention.
United look set to stick to their guns this summer and let the forward leave permanently. And according to Sky Sports in Italy, Juventus are leading the race to sign him.
It’s claimed Greenwood’s entourage have made it clear that the Italian club are his priority in the transfer window, giving Juve the green light to make an approach. Personal terms are therefore believed to have already been agreed upon.
The transfer fee could be a sticking point, though, with United said to be holding out for a €50million (£42m) sum. Juventus are set to offer an initial €30m (£25m) plus bonuses.
They also need to make room for Greenwood before they can sign him, with one of Federico Chiesa or Matias Soule touted to exit. Italy international Chiesa has been linked with Roma, and so too has 21-year Argentine Soule, who is also attracting Premier League interest from the likes of Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Tottenham.
Juventus have long been admirers of Greenwood, dating back to 2019 when he was just 17. United journalist Andy Mitten claimed they were “prepared to offer his family life-changing amounts of money” to take him to Italy on the Talk of the Devils podcast.
Greenwood opted to instead put pen to paper on a new contract at Old Trafford, going on to score 35 goals in 129 games for the senior side. His club performances earned him an international call-up.
But he has just one England cap to his name after he and Phil Foden were sent home from Iceland in September 2020 for inviting multiple women to the team hotel, breaching Covid-19 guidelines in the process. He was substituted on for the final 12 minutes of the 1-0 away win.
Several clubs around Europe have been named in connection with him in recent months. They include Spanish giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and Portuguese side Benfica.
