Manchester United, who had the entire world watching, finally made a choice regarding Mason Greenwood on Monday.
The news verified that Greenwood would resume his career outside of Old Trafford after an internal six-and-a-half-month review by the club determined that ‘it would be most appropriate for him’ to do so.
Greenwood and Richard Arnold also made statements, although this choice just marks the start of the story’s conclusion.
Greenwood has finished his time at the club he joined at the age of seven. Although the move has been applauded, vocal opponents of his prospective comeback feel that the Old Trafford administration let its followers down in some way.
Though done incorrectly, the correct choice has been made. Greenwood’s comeback was reportedly supposed to be revealed to the employees by club CEO Arnold, but a U-turn was made after information about it surfaced last week and fans reacted angrily.
It has left fans with a bad taste in their mouths and made them believe that the important decision-makers are untrustworthy, which has always been a worry with the Glazers serving as guardians.
Arnold was given the task of making the choice by the Glazers, and he now has some clear questions to respond to. Why did a choice not get made sooner? Why was the player’s return originally scheduled? Why were the opinions of the supporters ignored?
That dissatisfaction among a portion of the club’s staff contributed significantly to the U-turn speaks volumes. While some were known to be amenable to Greenwood’s comeback, others were adamantly opposed.
The news that Greenwood was on the verge of rejoining the team shocked everyone, and emails opposing the proposal that season-ticket holders and members wrote to United have been obtained by this website.
The choice appeared to be simple. Despite the fact that the issue was delicate and complicated, United was supposed to decide what was best for the player and their supporters, and for a small period of time, they came to a judgment that infuriated people.
Old Trafford has a history of making terrible judgments, and this U-turn—while involving a considerably more delicate and important matter—has similarities to the European Super League fiasco, in which the team made a decision before swiftly changing it in response to fierce fan outrage.
Following the breakaway league’s demise, Ed Woodward departed the team, despite assurances that lessons would be learned. Apparently, the opposite is true, and Arnold is now facing the same charges that his predecessor faced.
It has also been disheartening to see the decision take so long to be made. June 3 was United’s last-ever game of the previous season, and ideally, Greenwood’s future would have been settled soon after.
Rather, it carried on into the summer, the off-season, and even the beginning of the season. The problem was made worse by club officials imposing a deadline of their own just before the season-opening match against Wolves.
After the self-imposed deadline passed, the announcement was eventually made seven days later. Before sharing their choice, the club thought through and planned for a variety of possible outcomes, but they ultimately decided on the right one.
United considers every possible result would have generated controversy, characterizing their choice as a “very difficult and complex employment case.” Most fans of the game would disagree with that.
Over the past few years, there has been a growing divide in opinion between in-person supporters and some online ones, but never before has it been more obvious than it has been in relation to the Greenwood discussion.
Like the fan who spoke out against Greenwood’s possible comeback last week while standing close to the Mary Earps mural, the majority of matchgoers have constantly stated that this should never have been a topic.
A variety of possible outcomes before sharing their choice, but they ultimately decided on the right one.