Manchester United owners Ineos have inherited a difficult conundrum with Mason Greenwood.
For all the unwelcome delays in Manchester United’s investment, which was due to originally go through last spring, there was probably one positive for them.
That was not being lumbered with the original decision of what to do with Mason Greenwood. Now former CEO Richard Arnold had to deal with that, and did so atrociously.
Ineos likely would have made a far firmer, simpler decision. It took United all summer, and lots of negative headlines, to finally send him out on loan to Getafe in the final hour of transfer deadline day.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfer deals for January 2024, ins, outs, loan moves
Getafe loan has worked out
Despite how last minute Manchester United’s loan for Mason Greenwood was, it has all worked out pretty well.
Greenwood is away from the spotlight, and has been able to play on a regular basis in one of Europe’s top leagues.
He is beginning to be talked about for on-pitch reasons rather than off the field, and this will help Manchester United to sell him, when it looked like at one point, the club may have to pay off his contract and release him.
There is also interest from top Spanish teams, with The Sun reporting Barcelona are very strongly interested.
Ineos plotting smart Greenwood exit
Barcelona’s interest is described as serious, with the La Liga giants seeking to sign Greenwood in the summer on a permanent deal.
According to the report, the Spanish side are so keen to get a deal done, they want to wrap it up in June, at the start of the summer window, and this will suit Manchester United perfectly, so that the situation does not drag on into pre-season and have the awkward scenario of Greenwood returning to Carrington – and headlines created when he is included or left off the club’s summer tour.
An early deal would be a masterstroke, and the financial conditions are also reportedly being planned shrewdly.
Ineos want a Greenwood sale to be conditioned with payment clauses based on number of games played, and even if the striker represents his country at international level.
This is ensured to design that Manchester United land as fair a price as possible for the sale of an academy player.
It can also help offset the clause United agreed with Getafe last summer. The Athletic reported that Getafe will be entitled to 20 per cent of the sale of Greenwood, as a thank you for developing him in 2022/23, per the way the agreement was negotiated last summer.
Greenwood has no future at Old Trafford, even if that’s a reluctant view for some at the club. Greenwood also seems happy in Spain, and is in no rush to return to England.
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