Mason Greenwood’s career at Manchester United could be saved after the club’s main sponsor approved his return.
Old Trafford bosses are set to decide “in weeks” on the future of the England striker after charges including attempted rape were dropped.
The player is already back training with Man United’s blessing.
Old Trafford staff are overseeing the England ace’s regime and he has spoken more than once with boss Erik ten Hag.
Hopes of a playing return, after charges against him including attempted rape were dropped, have been raised by the talks. It’s said that the green light from adidas will likely see other sponsors follow suit and that most of his team mates would also welcome him back if the club agrees to go in that route.
The Sun claim that they have been told by a source that adidas don’t see Greenwood’s return as an ‘insurmountable obstacle’ and would not be ‘fiercely opposed’ to his return.
Meanwhile, adidas reportedly told the Sun of a Greenwood return: ‘That’s a question for the club. As sponsors we have no influence over team line-ups.’
Manchester United signed a deal worth around £750m with adidas to last ten-years from the start of the 2015-16 season – following 13 years with their rivals Nike.
Greenwood has been pictured keeping fit by training with Anthony Elanga – who has since left the Red Devils for Nottingham Forest.
It emerged earlier this month that United could look to use Greenwood as a makeweight in their pursuit of Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund.
A source said: “The initial signals from Adidas are positive. Without their blessing it would be hard to see a way back. But they have communicated his return would not necessarily be an insurmountable obstacle.
“They have certainly given the impression they would not be fiercely opposed to it.”
He has been suspended by United for the last 17 months since his arrest in January 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault, and has been unable to play for the club or train with the rest of the squad at Carrington.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges against Greenwood, and there has been talk United could look to loan him out this summer with reported interest from Italian side Atalanta.
