The former Black Cats youngster has reflected on leaving the North East as he returns on a loan move..

After leaving Arsenal, Sam Greenwood discusses his departure from Sunderland and the ‘genius’ of Bielsa.

The young player who left the North East for the Black Cats has thought back on his decision as he joins Middlesbrough on loan.

Sam Greenwood, a former Sunderland teen, said that leaving the region at the age of just 16 to join Arsenal was difficult. The midfielder joined Wearside after progressing through the youth levels, however he departed the team in 2018 for North London after Wearside agreed to pay a rumored £500,000 for his services.

Greenwood is excited to play under Michael Carrick now that he has transferred from Leeds United to Middlesbrough on loan. Greenwood is now back in the North East. So far, my career has been unremarkable.

The 21-year-old’s future is uncertain because he will be working with Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road starting in 2020, but he has made the most of his experiences thus far.

“Arsenal came in for me and at the time Sunderland were struggling a little bit, so I got sold,” the player claimed. Moving away at that point from your family, especially from me, might be difficult. It can be difficult; I had truly never traveled outside of the North East. But eventually, I became accustomed to it and relished the sensation.

“Leaving Arsenal was really difficult, but Bielsa is a genius at what he does, in my opinion. He maintains his distance from the players while maintaining an unbelievably high level of understanding. Training is really intense. To survive each day, you must possess an incredibly strong mental fortitude.

 

“I’ve enjoyed my stay at Leeds very much. It’s been really fun for me. But for now, I’m simply thrilled to be a Middlesbrough player. I am aware of the size of this club and their enormous fan base. I am eager to get going.

Greenwood made his Boro debut against Queens Park Rangers last weekend as a second-half replacement, and he’s in the running to start against Blackburn after the break. On October 7, when the two teams square off at the Stadium of Light, he will face off against Sunderland in front of the television cameras.