The Manchester United striker was cleared of allegations of violence in the winter. But he is not allowed to return to football.
Grigory Telingater Jul 3, 2023 12:00 UTC Audio Version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
What’s going on with Greenwood?
A year ago, Mason Greenwood was considered the star of the Premier League. He suddenly broke into big football and even set several Manchester United records. Including becoming the youngest team player to play in the Champions League (17 years and 156 days), and also the record holder for goals scored in the English Championship for Manchester United aged under 20 (20 goals ).
Greenwood stood out because he hit perfectly with both feet. Teammates admitted that in his first training in the adult team, no one could understand whether he was right-handed or left-handed. Luke Shaw even said: “There is no reason why he can’t be an important player for Manchester United in the future. I have no doubt that Mason can become a United legend.
Mason Greenwood and Cristiano Ronaldo
Photo: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
However, along with a great game, the club’s ward also had discipline problems. And it’s not about the fact that he hit the goal too often (Ronaldo shrugged for that). Greenwood was reported to have been late for training, although Solskjaer denied this. Athletic assured that the club’s squad could not even always determine where the player was. There were also other stories. The footballer had to apologize for the use of laughing gas. And then he broke the quarantine rules by taking the girl to her hotel room.
Greenwood assured that he changed his mind, but in January 2022 a much more powerful scandal happened. The football player’s ex-girlfriend, Harriet Robson, posted photos of his bruised and split lip, saying: “For anyone who wants to know what Mason Greenwood is really doing to me.” Additionally, she posted audio of a male voice rudely forcing her to have sex. On the same day, Manchester United announced the footballer’s suspension and he was detained by the police, but a few days later he was released on bail. The girl’s father said that her phone was hacked and that she did not want publicity.
bricklayer wood green
Photo: Cameron Smith/Getty Images
The investigation lasted a year. During this time, the footballer repeatedly violated the conditions of the bail. The journalists photographed him with Robson. Greenwood’s bank account also paid for a purchase from an online store, which was delivered to the victim’s address. However, in February 2023, all charges against the footballer were dropped.
The lead detective on the case, Michaela Kerr, said: “In this case, the combination of the removal of key witnesses and the emergence of new material meant that there was no longer a realistic prospect of a conviction. In these circumstances, we are required to drop the case. Despite media and public interest, we have decided not to comment further.”
There was a lot of speculation in the comments as to why the football player was cleared, but it makes sense to just record the fact: Robson is currently pregnant with Greenwood. Now the main question is how the striker restarts his career after a year and a half.
Scarf with a portrait of Mason Greenwood
Photo: James Gill-Danehouse/Getty Images
Immediately after the charges were dropped, the club was divided on whether Greenwood should play for the team again (data from The Guardian). Manchester United players opposed the striker’s return (information from The Athletic). In turn, head coach Erik ten Hag simply refused to comment for a long time (even after the charges were dropped). And he only recently issued a rather vague explanation: “whether he will return is not my decision.”
Meanwhile, the player is still under contract with the club. During all this time, Greenwood received a salary, and the agreement is designed for another two years. Now the first transfer window has come, when a footballer can be sold, but Manchester United is in no hurry. The club announced that it was conducting its own investigation, but after a year and a half, the results were not made public.
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In May, footage of Greenwood’s training sessions began to surface for the first time since his arrest. At the same time, the striker was engaged separately from the team and not in the form of Manchester United. Greenwood has reportedly told friends of his that he would never play for United again, but this is information from The Sun, which is hard to trust. There was also news of interest for the player from Spanish, Italian and Turkish teams. “The decision has not yet been made,” reports Fabrizio Romano. The Manchester Evening News say that ten Hag does not want to sell Greenwood and that the club is inclined to loan the striker out.
