Greenwood cannot star with Bellingham at Euro 2024 but both enjoying LaLiga

At one time, English football might have eagerly anticipated the day when Jude Bellingham and Mason Greenwood would have starred together for the national team. A lot has changed since.

Bellingham has become a global superstar, Real Madrid's shrewdest signing in years, and many people's tip as a near-future Ballon d'Or winner.

In contrast Greenwood's career has tailspinned towards oblivion, leaving him shunned by clubs in England, and 20 months without a competitive game.

And yet both have ended up in Spain and when they meet tonight in the modest surroundings of Getafe's 16,500 capacity stadium they do so on an almost equal footing – at least in as much as Bellingham has been Real Madrid's best player this season, and Greenwood can stake a claim for having been Getafe's.

There was barely a trickle of clubs trying to sign Greenwood last summer with only interest from Lazio likely to prevent Getafe from taking him on a season's loan.

But after six goals and four assists in 17 starts it is likely to be a very different story this summer, even more so if the Manchester United loanee turns on the style again against Bellingham's Real Madrid.

Getafe are busy on deadline day trying to sell striker Enes Unal to Bournemouth for as close as possible to his 40million euros [£34m] release clause. That would give them some financial leverage to keep Greenwood into next season.

But with various clubs in Spain and Italy watching the situation closely they are unlikely to be able to compete.

The Greenwood effect at Getafe – they were a hard watch last season as they battled relegation – is all too evident.

They are 10th having played a one fewer game and they are in with a chance of making the European places for the first time since 2019.

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