Mason Greenwood already sent clear warning as dad's 'meeting' may impact Man Utd swap

Mason Greenwood could secure a high-pressure move to Benfica this summer – which would derail a mooted Manchester United swap deal. The striker, who impressed during his loan stint with Getafe in Spain’s top flight, appears set for another transfer this summer.

With just a year remaining on his Old Trafford contract, the Red Devils are keen to offload the 22-year-old while they can still command a fee. Speculation has surfaced about a potential swap deal that would see Greenwood head to Juventus, with former Chelsea youngster Samuel Iling-Junior moving in the opposite direction.

However, Benfica have emerged as a serious contender for his signature. Greenwood and his father have reportedly engaged in discussions with Benfica’s sporting director Rui Pedro Braz, according to Portuguese publication Record.

Benfica’s history is peppered with British talent, particularly during the late 1990s when Graeme Souness managed the team. The ex-Liverpool and Rangers boss brought in several UK players, including Brian Deane, Dean Saunders, Mark Pembridge, Scott Minto and Michael Thomas.

While Getafe may have defied expectations in La Liga, the pressure at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz is on another level. Success is the only currency there, with Souness himself reflecting on the intense atmosphere: “Each game was all or nothing.”

Meanwhile, Deane looks back with affection on his time in Lisbon, regretting his departure. Speaking to World Soccer, he reminisced: “I couldn’t fault anything. The football is very different, slower, you were allowed a lot more of the ball and they only closed you down in their half instead of all over.

“It was great coming up with new solutions. I was out of my comfort zone and sometimes you don’t appreciate that when it’s happening. I’ve got no regrets about it and I didn’t want to leave, but the situation off the pitch forced the sale.”