Manchester United are reportedly set to axe Mason Greenwood from plans for the club’s pre-season tour of the United States this summer. The Red Devils are making preparations without Greenwood in the biggest hint yet that he will leave Old Trafford permanently at the end of his loan spell at Getafe.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his new-look sporting structure face an array of challenges and big decisions in the opening few months of their rule over the club’s football operations.
Greenwood’s future is among the most pressing matters ahead of a summer transfer window in which United will likely have to sell to spend a significant amount.
The 22-year-old forward has impressed in La Liga, registering eight goals and five assists in 26 appearances for Getafe.
He has reportedly attracted interest from heavyweight suitors, including Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, and, as an academy graduate, his sale would provide United with pure profit to boost Financial Fair Play limits.
United will warm up for the 2024/25 season by returning Stateside in July for fixtures in Los Angeles, North Carolina and San Diego. Arsenal and Liverpool have already been announced as opponents in two of the locations.
But according to the Daily Star, Greenwood won’t be among the travelling squad even if he doesn’t extend his stay at Getafe.
It’s claimed that senior United figures harbour concerns over whether the former No. 11’s presence would be an unwelcome distraction due to the vast media interest in his future.
There are also reservations about Greenwood negatively impacting the squad’s preparations, club sponsors and commercial partners – three factors that pre-season tours are supposed to benefit.
Plans for the club to visit the United States without Greenwood heavily suggest that he will be sold once the transfer window opens, raising crucial funds to upgrade the squad after a miserable campaign.
Ratcliffe has come under pressure from charities and fans since confirming that United would make a “fresh” decision on Greenwood after completing his £1.3billion deal for a 27.7 per cent stake.
“It’s quite clear we have to make a decision. There is no decision that’s been made,” Ratcliffe told the media.
“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: 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?”
