“I think its time for us to bring him back to replace Jadon Sancho and Injured Antony. We have no other choice. I discussed with INEOS and also called Mason Greenwood to start packing his bags”-Erik ten Hag has ‘made Mason Greenwood feelings clear’ amid Man Utd ‘return decision’

Erik ten Hag reportedly has an interesting stance on Mason Greenwood’s Manchester United return.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has already made his stance on Mason Greenwood’s potential return clear as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS prepare to decide on his future, according to reports. Greenwood will return to United this summer before one of three likely outcomes, and Ten Hag has named his preferred path.

The 22-year-old forward hasn’t played for United since January 2022, when he was arrested before he was later charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour, all of which he denied.

In February last year, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges due to the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light’.And after a six-month club investigation, then-chief executive Richard Arnold reportedly informed United staff of his plans to reintegrate Greenwood into the first-team squad this season.However, internal and external backlash about the academy graduate’s planned return forced a change of heart. Greenwood was subsequently hurried out of the exit door on deadline day, joining Getafe on loan.

He has caught the eye while restarting his career in Spain, registering five goals and four assists in 17 appearances for Getafe.

Greenwood’s exploits have reportedly attracted transfer interest from La Liga’s biggest clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

But it has also raised the question of whether United’s new sporting structure will follow through with Arnold’s initial plan to give Greenwood a second chance at Old Trafford.This summer, United will either make the controversial decision to sanction their former No 11’s return, generate a transfer fee by selling him on a permanent basis, or loan him out again and let him leave for free in 2025.

Reports suggest that Ratcliffe and INEOS won’t commit to any decision until later this season when the Premier League has ratified the minority investment and they officially take control of the club’s football operations.

Ten Hag would, according to previous reports, prefer the first option based on his alleged desire when United pondered his future last year.

In August, The Athletic reported that Ten Hag supported and encouraged Arnold’s initial decision to green-light Greenwood’s return to the senior squad.

It was claimed that football director John Murtough shared the same stance at the conclusion of the investigation, from which Arnold said he was “satisfied” Greenwood wasn’t guilty of the accusations.Ten Hag is yet to work with Greenwood, having arrived after the player’s arrest when Ralf Rangnick was interim boss.United have never denied his reported stance, and the promising glimpses the Bradford-born forward has shown at Getafe are unlikely to have changed the Dutchman’s mind about a possible return.