Mason Greenwood’s loan deal with Getafe allegedly includes a break clause enabling Manchester United to recall him to the club in January.
After Man United decided that the attacker would not return to the club following the end of his criminal case, Greenwood joined the La Liga side on loan for the 2023-24 campaign.
The one-cap England international has not played a competitive football match since January 2022, having been arrested following allegations posted online by a woman.
Greenwood was due to go on trial in November of this year to face charges of attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but the case was dropped in February.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced that there would no longer be a realistic prospect of conviction due to key witnesses withdrawing and new material coming to light, allowing him to resume his football career.
Greenwood began to rebuild his fitness levels in individual training sessions, which Man United supposedly received data from, and the club were said to be preparing for his re-integration after an internal review.
However, once news of the Red Devils’ plan was leaked, the club faced enormous backlash on social media, seeing them reverse their decision and announce that Greenwood would not play for the club again.
No permanent bids for the 21-year-old were lodged, but rather than terminate his contract, Man United chose to send Greenwood on loan to Getafe in order to resume his career away from the English spotlight.
Greenwood may not remain in Spain for the entirety of the campaign, though, as The Athletic claims that Man United possess a break clause enabling them to end his loan spell in January should they wish.
While the Red Devils could theoretically bring him back over the winter if the loan does not work out, the report adds that such an option is included in a large portion of loan deals as a standard practice, and Greenwood is not expected to represent the club again.
The Englishman’s future beyond 2024 remains unclear, though, as he is still under contract at Man United until 2025, which also includes the option of an additional 12 months.
A permanent move to Saudi Arabia was mooted this summer, but clubs in the Middle East – who have welcomed a plethora of celebrated names to the Saudi Pro League this summer – decided against a move due to concerns about how Greenwood’s arrival could negatively affect their image.
In addition, the report adds that all of Brentford, Roma, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund turned down the chance to sign Greenwood, while a move to Lazio fell through as a full agreement was not reached before the Italian window closed four hours before the English window.
Greenwood joined Man United at the age of seven and represented the senior team on 129 occasions before his arrest, scoring 35 goals and registering 12 assists.
The 21-year-old did not make Getafe’s squad for their loss to Real Madrid at the weekend, though, and it is unclear when he might make his debut for Pepe Bordalas’s side.
