The hype surrounding Manchester United starlet Mason Greenwood is real.The 18-year-old striker looks destined for more first team starts next season after shining in 2019/20.In 46 appearances in all competitions, Greenwood scored 18 goals.After Man United sold Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan last season, there was a feeling that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would need to add a new striker to his squad to fill the void.But he put his faith in Greenwood and was rewarded with some fine performances from the young Englishman.
He’s proven to be exceptional in front of goal and the problem for defenders is that there isn’t a preferred side for them to push Greenwood: he can finish with either foot.“Left foot, right foot. He can finish on whatever side is comfortable for him,” Marcus Rashford told BT Sport after Greenwood bagged a brace in Man United’s 5-2 win against Bournemouth in July, per the club’s website.
Rashford continued by trying to temper the expectations surrounding Greenwood, but that’s simply impossible for some.
During a Q&A on Instagram in March, former United centre-back Rio Ferdinand lavished praise on the teenager and said he’s ‘meant to be’ at Old Trafford.
“Left foot, right foot, bang. The ball is hitting the back of the net, that is how he moves,” Ferdinand said, per Goal.
“He just looks around ‘Old Trafford? This is me, I’m meant to be here.’
“That is the vibe I get from him. You can’t put a price on that, that cold-hearted calm confidence is just mad.”
Greenwood didn’t feature in United’s 2-1 win against LASK on Wednesday but he was still able to showcase his talent in the warm-up.
Footage has emerged of the young striker completing a drill in which he scores from the edge of the area with his right foot, before finishing off from a cross with his left foot.
In the space of 10 seconds, he showed just how good he is with both feet.
Some might not be impressed. But honestly, how many other strikers would be able to finish both of those chances so comfortably?
A right-footed player wouldn’t have the confidence to open up their body and finish off the second opportunity with their weaker foot, perhaps snatching at the ball instead with their right foot.
Meanwhile, that first finish would be tough for a left-footed player to produce.
Greenwood actually admitted to preferring his left foot - just - but he takes penalties with his right foot after missing one with his left in his youth career.
"I prefer my left foot, just about, to my right foot," he told the club website, per Manchester Evening News.
"Actually, it happened when I was in the Under-13s. I missed with my left foot against City when I was struggling in a game and ever since I've just gone with the right foot."
What a luxury. Most of us can barely kick a ball with one foot.