'Mason Greenwood wanted to come' - Lazio boss SLAMS Man Utd

Stuart Telford

• 3 Sept 2023 12:36 BST
• 3 min read

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has hit out at Manchester United after failing to complete a loan move for Mason Greenwood, with the player signing with Getafe instead.

Greenwood has not played for United since January 2022 after being accused of multiple criminal charges, including rape.

Those charges were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February but the club confirmed in August that he would be leaving, without confirming his next destination.

READ: Getafe coach breaks silence on Greenwood loan from Man Utd

Lazio wanted to be it, but a transfer there failed to materialise, even if it was the England forward's preference.

"I tried until the last minute," Lotito told La Lazio Siamo Noi shortly after the Italian transfer window closed on Friday evening. "[Man Utd] didn't countersign in time. He wanted to come to Lazio."

Tumultuous summer

Greenwood could make his Getafe debut at home to Osasuna in their first game after the upcoming international break.

READ: Man Utd takeover: Glazers' SHOCK U-turn

Greenwood is still under contract at Old Trafford until 30 June 2025, and the BBC previously reported that United were looking for a permanent buyer before the Getafe loan transpired.

Greenwood is one of 16 players to have left Man Utd this summer, on loan or otherwise, with David de Gea's exit on a free transfer garnering perhaps the most column inches.

A tumultuous summer at the record English champions took another twist on Saturday when the Glazer family decided to take the club off the market, having previously been expected to sell to Qatari Sheikh Jassim.

They have been on a significant recruitment drive despite the uncertainty, signing Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Sofyan Amrabat, Altay Bayindir, Jonny Evans and Sergio Reguilon before the summer window closed.

Lazio have signed two other players who's preferred position is on the right of the attack in Gustav Isaksen and Matteo Cancellieri from FC Midtjylland and Verona respectively.