Mason Greenwood’s Man Utd return now closer after breakthrough in ‘private talk’

Manchester United’s shirt sponsors, Adidas, have reportedly approved Mason Greenwood’s return to the first team. Ongoing talks behind the scenes have been described as ‘positive’, with a final decision on his club future expected before the Premier League season gets underway.

Greenwood remains suspended from training and matches until United complete their internal investigation into the young forward.

He has not played since January 2022, when the Red Devils announced that Greenwood would be absent from competitive action ‘until further notice’.

Senior figures at Old Trafford are expected to arrive at their final decision over the coming weeks on whether to welcome Greenwood back into the fold.

According to The Sun, Adidas have communicated that Greenwood’s return to the United first team ‘would not be an insurmountable obstacle’.

Secret talks between Adidas and the club are believed to be ongoing. The clothing company signed a mega-money 10-year deal with United back in 2015, thought to be worth a whopping £750million.

Greenwood is currently training alone as he gears up for a return to the professional game. The 21-year-old has been suspended on full pay for over 18 months.

Capped at senior level for England, Greenwood scored 17 goals across all competitions in 2019/20 upon breaking into the United team as a teenager. Overall, he boasts 35 goals in 129 matches for the Red Devils.

Last year, Nike suspended and ultimately terminated their sponsorship deal with the youngster. Electronic Arts then confirmed that he had been removed from FIFA 22.

On the issue of Greenwood’s return, Adidas told The Sun: “That’s a question for the club. As sponsors we have no influence over team line-ups.”

United do however remain very much in the transfer market for a new striker this summer.

The Red Devils continue their stand-off with Serie A side Atalanta over the proposed transfer of young forward Ramus Hojlund, who is understood to have agreed personal terms with the club along with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Atalanta are holding out for a fee north of the £70m mark for the Denmark international, though United are unwilling to budge from their valuation of £50m.