Manchester United insiders are concerned that Sir Jim Ratcliffe underestimated the ill-feeling towards Mason Greenwood in reopening the possibility of the player returning to Old Trafford.
Many expected the new United investor to simply bat away questions about Greenwood’s future during Tuesday’s first media interviews since his 27.7 per cent stake in the club was ratified, but by insisting the 22-year-old’s chances of playing at Old Trafford again was a “fresh decision” to be taken within the “club’s values”, Ratcliffe has opened up the whole incident again.
Charges of attempted rape, controlling behaviour and assault against Greenwood were dropped in February last year, with United and the player deciding that he best resumes his career elsewhere following a six-month internal investigation as he was sent on a season-long loan to Spanish side Getafe.
That was expected to be that for Greenwood in Manchester, but the concern among several insiders i spoke to revolves around the fact Ratcliffe, given he does not live in England, doesn’t understand the level of resistance to a return for the player.
“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 do not believe Ratcliffe, given the mountain of big jobs he is pledged to undertake, needs to go down the road of finding a way to integrate Greenwood back into the squad that appeases everyone.
Instead, sell him for £40m – what several sources believe is the amount United would want to receive – to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona or another of the interest clubs around Europe, take 100 per cent profit in the eyes of Financial Fair Play (FFP) and move on. Even insert a buyback clause if they believe supporters will be happy with such.
There will be plenty of voices that claim United, morally, shouldn’t even pocket the cash – academy graduates represent all profit on the balance sheet in the eyes of FFP – but it is clear to some bringing Greenwood back will overshadow any other improvements Ratcliffe is trying to make.
In the wide-ranging interviews as he prepares to take control of footballing matters at Old Trafford, Ratcliffe outlined his grand plans for the future.
No stone was left unturned. Not only does the Manchester-born billionaire want to rebuild a decaying Old Trafford, he plans to completely revive the surrounding area, enlisting the help of Gary Neville to help with such plans.
Not content with a new CEO and director of football, Ratcliffe wants an assistant to incoming chief executive Omar Berrada, negotiate Dan Ashworth’s early departure from Newcastle, hire a head of recruitment, revamp the scouting department, before then conducting a playing squad overhaul, all within the tightest of financial restrictions given the millions wasted in recent years on underperforming stars.
Reopening the Greenwood case to an extent that will placate all stakeholders, sponsors and supporters around the world, would, some believe, be a more all-encompassing task than all of the above.
Returning to England would certainly stoke a reaction among opposition supporters, but some fans in Spain have moved on, after initial animosity towards Greenwood.
Barcelona have been paying close attention to Greenwood’s fine form at Getafe since he made the move to Spain, but insiders believe Atletico would be a more viable destination, given Barca’s own financial struggles.
Greenwood is not the only academy product United may well dispense of. Despite his goal return this season, Scott McTominay is seen as replaceable, with the hope West Ham come back in for the Scot this summer, while some graduates out on loan – Hannibal Mejbri and Alvaro Fernandez – have clauses in their deals that could make their Old Trafford exits permanent at the end of their loan spells. All in, the club could recoup towards £100m on academy products alone.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony were all on the list of possible options, sources said, with no clubs as yet preparing offers.
United triggered the option for an additional year to be added to Wan-Bissaka’s contract earlier this month, but with a sale in mind. Casemiro was identified by Ratcliffe and Ineos as the epitome of everything that is wrong about United’s transfer policy – signing ageing, expensive stars whose best years are behind them.
Getting his huge wages off the books, as part of the overall economising, is seen as a good starting point for the new administration.
Sancho’s future is still very much up in the air, but the early signs are promising that he can revive his stuttering career on loan at Borussia Dortmund. Should he do so, and Ten Hag and his new bosses decide not to reintegrate him into the United set-up, numerous suitors could come in with a summer offer. The phone lines are not expected to be ringing off the hook for Antony, however, after his season to forget so far.
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