Manchester United have finally communicated an official decision regarding the future of Mason Greenwood following an internal investigation that lasted months. The Englishman, once regarded as the country's most talented youngster, will not be returning to the Red Devils and will be leaving the club to continue his career elsewhere.
The 21-year-old has been dominating the headlines, and for understandable reasons, after being suspended by his club in late January of 2022 after being accused of attempted rape. Disturbing images and recordings which appear to involve the alleged victim and the Englishman sparked a criminal case from the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The charges were not limited to attempted rape but also included assault and coercive control.
However, the case was discontinued as a conviction was no longer possible due to key witnesses withdrawing their cooperation. As a result, Manchester United launched an internal investigation in February to decide the former Three Lions ace's future.
"Manchester United has concluded its internal investigation into the allegations made against Mason Greenwood," their official statement read.
"Our process commenced in February 2023, following all charges against Mason being dropped. Throughout, we have taken into account the wishes, rights, and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club's standards and values, and sought to collate as much information and context as possible. This has required us to proceed with sensitivity and care to obtain evidence not in the public domain, including from those with direct knowledge of the case.
"Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offenses in respect of which he was originally charged. That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.
"All those involved, including Mason, recognize 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."
Greenwood is under contract until 2025 and while the club's statement indicates sympathy towards the player, his time at Old Trafford is over. However, it should be noted that this decision came in the wake of heavy public backlash towards the Premier League giants after a report from the Athletic revealed that the Red Devils initially decided to bring back the player.
According to that report, chief executive Richard Arnold already communicated to his superiors the decision to reintegrate the player into the first team in the first week of August, with manager Erik ten Hag supporting this move. However, this was pushed back as Arnold desired to reach out to key stakeholders first, which includes the women's team. The issue was that a few key members were away with the England national team at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and could not be disturbed.
This move was thus revealed to the entire world courtesy of the Athletic, sparking a united backlash from fans and even members of parliament, thus forcing a U-turn.
The Premier League giants reportedly went as far as listing the potential reaction from external figures, including pundits, journalists, politicians, and related charity groups, labeling them as "supportive", "open-minded", and "hostile". The manager was also debriefed on how to handle questions from the media once Greenwood returned.
The club have denied this story, however, with Arnold penning an open letter via their official website to offer transparency. According to Arnold, a final decision had not been made but the Red Devils were simply preparing for the likelihood of a return, which he admits was a possibility. Furthermore, Arnold also states that the internal investigation found Mason innocent of the crimes he was charged with.
"Last week the media reported that we had decided to reintegrate Mason and that elements of a plan to do so had been leaked to them. Reintegration was one of the outcomes we considered and planned for. For context, over the course of the past six months, several outcomes have been contemplated and planned for, and my view has evolved as our process progressed. While the ultimate decision rested with me, I was taking various factors and views into account right up until the point of finalizing my decision.
"While I am satisfied that Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with, Mason's accepted that he has made mistakes which he takes responsibility for. I am also mindful of the challenge that Mason would face rebuilding his career and raising a baby together with his partner in the harsh spotlight of Manchester United. Further, this case has provoked strong opinions, and it is my responsibility to minimize any distraction to the unity we are seeking within the club.
"Although we have decided that Mason will seek to rebuild his career away from Manchester United, that does not signal the end of this matter. The club will continue to offer its support both to the alleged victim and Mason to help them rebuild and move forward positively with their lives."
Greenwood also put out a statement, thanking the club and his friends and family for their support while claiming his innocence. However, the player admits that all of his actions were not honorable and vowed to grow and improve.
Mason Greenwood statement
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2023
I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard on social media, and I know people will think the worst.
I was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong, I did… pic.twitter.com/uFodIG1xzq
