Manchester United star Mason Greenwood could have stood up for Juventus if things turned out to be a little different in 2019, at a time when the Serie A giants are believed to be offering him a lucrative payday to leave his boys’ club and move to Italy.
Yorkshire-born Greenwood was recruited by United’s youth scouts when he was just six years old. He trained with the first team when he was 16 and made his debut shortly after 17, continued to enjoy a phenomenal breakout season 2019/20 when he scored 17 goals.
Greenwood enjoyed a breakout season in 2019/20 | PAUL ELLIS / Getty Images
But before that, Greenwood had apparently made Juventus flash the cash against him.
The teenager was already well known to the Juve scouts, after making the goal choice when United beat the Italian side in the UEFA Youth League in October 2018 and beat three defenders and kicked in with their weaker foot in the 4-1 victory.
In the summer of 2019, with Greenwood coming off the bench in the Champions League during United’s famous comeback against Paris Saint-Germain and starting the last Premier League game of the season against Cardiff, Juve were ready to make their offer.
United journalist and author Andy Mitten told The Athletic’s Talk of the Devils podcast that Juve presented a proposal for the then 17-year-old that included “life-changing money”.
Juventus had seen Greenwood play against them in the UEFA Youth League 2018 | Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
But rather than follow the cash abroad, Greenwood remained loyal to United. He was part of the pre-season squad for the second summer in a row and started 2019/20 as a first team player.
Greenwood was primarily a replacement in the Premier League but was on the bench most of the matches, while he was a starter in the Europa League and ended the group stage with four goals. The first of them, against Astana on match day one, was his first official senior goal in United colors.
The teenager signed a new contract with United in October 2019, which the club has since improved with another long-term contract worth £ 75,000 per week in February 2021.
Greenwood became a regular Man Utd start during Project Restart | Pool / Getty Images
Greenwood scored its first ever Premier League goal in a 3-3 draw against Sheffield United in December 2019 and came into its own in a rapidly improving United side during ‘Project Restart’ following the forced season break due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Greenwood finished the 2019/20 campaign with ten Premier League goals to his name and another seven in all competitions and has remained an important first team plates 2020/21, even sporting the iconic jersey number 11 worn so long with such a difference by Ryan Giggs.
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