MANCHESTER United insiders are reportedly upset with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s refusal to rule out Mason Greenwood’s return to the club.
Greenwood, who went on loan to Getafe in September, has not featured for United since he was suspended after being arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault in January 2022.
Mason Greenwood is currently on loan at Spanish outfit Getafe
PASir Jim Ratcliffe has finally completed his 27.7 per cent takeover of Man Utd[/caption]
All charges were subsequently dropped but the Red Devils suggested the former England man was unlikely to return to the club.
But new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has since hinted that the 22-year-old could be handed a path back to Old Trafford.
Speaking for the first time since completing his £1.03billion purchase of a 27 per cent stake in the club, which includes control of football affairs, petro-chemicals magnate Ratcliffe gave a remarkable insight into his ambitions and thoughts.
And the Red Devils supremo claimed on Wednesday that a fresh decision will be taken on the future of Greenwood.
However, Man United insiders claimed they did not expect him to comment on the star striker.
Some reportedly feel he has opened up the incident again when many people expected United to part ways with Greenwood permanently this summer, reports the i.
“I don’t think he understands the situation fully, so I don’t think he needed to comment at all,” a source said.
Figures around the club are said to believe that Sir Jim does not need to consider finding a way to integrate Greenwood back in the squad.
The Red Devils academy graduate has attracted interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and United could well cash in this summer.
Greenwood was sent out on loan to LaLiga side Getafe in September last year.
He has played 24 games for the Spanish outfit, scoring seven goals and providing five assists.
Ratcliffe refused to close the door on both Greenwood and Jadon Sancho – on loan at Borussia Dortmund – when speaking to the media.
Ratcliffe cannot afford to have a section of the Red Devils supporters against him this early into his tenure and must tread carefully while making decisions.
In an interview earlier this week, Ratcliffe said: “We will make a decision.
“I don’t know if he (Greenwood) could still have a future.
“All I can do is talk about the principle of how we will approach decisions like that.
“Is he the right type of footballer? Are we happy with that? Is he a good person or not?
“He (Greenwood) is a Manchester United footballer and we are in charge of football.
“So the answer is it’s quite clear we have to make a decision.
There is no decision that’s been made. He’s on loan obviously but he’s not the only one.
“We’ve got one or two footballers that we have to deal with and we have to make a decision on – so we will do that.
“The process will be – understand the facts not the hype and then try and come to a fair decision on the basis of values – which is basically whether he is a good guy or not.
“Could he play sincerely for Manchester United well and would we be comfortable with it and the fans be comfortable with it?
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“I can talk about the principle. The principle is the important one because we will have other issues going forwards.
“You are dealing with young people who have not always been brought up in the best circumstances, who have a lot of money and don’t always have the guidance they should have.
“What we need to do when we have issues like that is to understand the real effects, not the hype.
“Then we need to make a fair decision in the light of the club’s values. That’s what we need to do and that’s how we will deal with it.”
Sir Jim also suggested his preferred option would be a new £2bn replacement stadium for Old Trafford, although rebuilding the club’s 114-year-old home is still on the agenda.
Greenwood has made a huge impact since arriving at Getafe.
He has scored five goals and assisted five more in 21 LaLiga appearances for the club.
His impressive form has even seen him linked with an incredible move to Barcelona.
Greenwood has impressed for Getafe this season
GettyThe former Prem ace last played for Man Utd in January 2022[/caption]