Manchester United's new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has confirmed the club will make a fresh decision on the future of Mason Greenwood.
Greenwood is currently on loan at Spanish side Getafe but will still have a year remaining on his Red Devils contract come the summer.
The 22-year-old had charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault against him dropped last February.
He remained exiled from the United squad for the last few months of the 2022/23 campaign as the club carried out its own internal investigation.
Man Utd chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe says a fresh decision will be made on Mason Greenwood
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It was reported last summer that United chiefs were willing to reintegrate Greenwood back into Erik ten Hag's squad.
However, internal and external pressure saw them u-turn on the decision in a statement released last August.
United said: "All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.
"It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome."
However, less than 24 hours after United confirmed Ratcliffe's investment had been finalised, the British billionaire has opened the door for a possible return for Greenwood.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Ratcliffe claimed the club would need to make a 'fair decision' based on club values.
He said: "I can talk about the principle. I am not going to talk about Mason. I am familiar with it.
"The principle is the important one. We will have other issues going forward.
"You are dealing with young people who have not always been brought up in the best circumstances, who have a lot of money and they don’t always have the guidance they should have.
"What we need to do when have issues like that is understand the real effects, not the hype, then we need to make a fair decision in the light of the club’s values. That’s what we need to do and that’s how we will deal with it."
Greenwood hasn't played for United since a 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham in January 2022.
Asked if the club will make a 'fresh decision' on Greenwood, Ratcliffe replied: "Yes, absolutely. We will make a decision and we will justify it.
"All I can do is talk about the principle of how we will approach decisions like that."
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Mason Greenwood is spending this season on loan at Getafe from Man Utd
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Ratcliffe's INEOS operation will be in charge of football matters at Old Trafford.
He has already appointed a new CEO in Omar Berrada and is pursuing Dan Ashworth as his sporting director.
Ratcliffe confirmed it would be in his remit to decide on Greenwood's future.
Asked directly if he is not closing the door on a possible return for the forward, Ratcliffe said: "He’s a Manchester United footballer so we are in charge of football. So the answer is yeah, we have to make decisions.
Mason Greenwood hasn't played a match for Man Utd since January 2022
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"It’s quite clear we have to make a decision. There is no decision that’s been made. 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, and answer could he play sincerely for Manchester United well and would we be comfortable with it and would the fans be comfortable with it."
