Ratcliffe faces backlash after opening door to Greenwood for Man Utd return

28 February 2024 , 20:19

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe is facing opposition to any return for Mason Greenwood at Manchester United (Image: DIRK WAEM/AFP via Getty Images)

Domestic abuse charity Women's Aid have asked Manchester United to explain their apparent U-turn on Mason Greenwood's future.

United eventually decided to move on from the striker last summer after conducting an an internal investigation into him. That came after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against the Englishman.

Greenwood subsequently joined Getafe on loan, where he has had a solid season. But after seeing his deal for a 25 percent stake in United confirmed, new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe opened the door to a potential return to the Red Devils.

But those comments have drawn a response from Women's Aid, with Ratcliffe appearing to have hinted at a major U-turn. That has led to the group getting into contact with the Red Devils over Greenwood's future.

According to the Daily Mail, Women's Aid have contacted United in the last few days seeking clarification on their position over Greenwood. It is claimed that the Red Devils responsed by insisting they believe the 22-year-old will be sold.

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They did though acknowledge that Ratcliffe's commend were ambiguous, though stated this was due to the need to find a buyer and then negotiate a fee. Greenwood's contract expires at the end of next season, though there is a club option to extend that by 12 months.

United's women's team is also monitoring the situation having previously expressed their concerns over any return for Greenwood. Both United and Women's Aid declined to comment to the Mail on the report of their dialougue.

Greenwood is currently on loan at Getafe ahead of an expected sale this summer (Getty Images)

Ratcliffe had opened the door to a return for Greenwood a week ago. The British billionaire revealed a new decision on the striker's future will be made at the end of the season, after his return from Getafe.

"We will make a decision, correct. 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 if is he a good person or not?" Ratcliffe said.

"He's a Manchester United footballer, so we are in charge of football. So the answer is 'Yeah, we have to make decisions. 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.

"Then try and come to fair decision on the basis of values, which is basically is he a good guy or not? Could he play sincerely for Manchester United well, would we be comfortable with it and would the fans be comfortable with it?"

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Jacob Leeks