EXCLUSIVE: Manchester United have been urged to hand Mason Greenwood a second chance at the club.
Manchester United have been urged to hand Mason Greenwood a second chance next season once he completes his season-long loan at Getafe. Former Red Devils winger Ian Storey-Moore has backed Greenwood to resume his career at Old Trafford despite the club’s sudden U-turn in the summer.
In February, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour against the 22-year-old forward, which he consistently denied.
Following a six-month internal inquiry into his 2022 arrest, The Athletic reported that United chief executive Richard Arnold had informed staff of plans to reintegrate Greenwood.
Football director John Murtough and manager Erik ten Hag reportedly supported the stance. However, staff threatening to strike and external criticism is claimed to have prompted a late U-turn.
It led to Greenwood joining La Liga side Getafe on loan until next summer, by which point he will still have one year left on his United contract.
The former United No 11 is enjoying life in Spain and is gradually rediscovering the scoring touch that made him one of Europe’s most exciting young attackers after his 2019 senior breakthrough.
United’s stance reportedly remains the same. They don’t expect Greenwood to represent the club again at the end of his loan at Getafe and beyond.
However, Storey-Moore believes he should remain at Old Trafford next season to add much-needed firepower to Ten Hag’s misfiring attacking regiment.
“Everybody deserves a second chance. He has served his time, so to speak, and they should possibly let him back in next season,” Storey-Moore told Express Sport.
“He’s an asset, isn’t he? I think he’s better than what they’ve got when he’s at his best, absolutely.”
Marcus Rashford’s strike in a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal in September remains the only Premier League goal scored by a United forward this season.
Ten Hag’s side have scored just 13 goals in 12 league outings this term, a measly tally only six teams have failed to match.
Rasmus Hojlund – who became United’s most expensive-ever striker in a £72million summer deal – is yet to score his first Premier League goal.
The 20-year-old Dane has netted five times in four Champions League group fixtures but has failed to replicate his form domestically.
Rashford is out of sorts, Antony continues to underwhelm and Jadon Sancho remains banished after effectively calling Ten Hag a liar on social media earlier in the season.
Greenwood would no doubt boost the Dutchman’s attacking options. But United’s incoming INEOS regime would face the same internal and external resistance if they attempted to sanction his return next year.
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