MANCHESTER UNITED PART WAYS WITH 21-YEAR-OLD FORWARD MASON GREENWOOD
Manchester United announced on Monday that Mason Greenwood would be leaving the club following an internal investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct, controlling and coercive behavior and assault brought against the young English forward early last year.
Greenwood was arrested on January 30th, 2022 on suspicion of sexual misconduct and assault after ex-girlfriend Harriet Robson posted images on social media revealing bruises and cuts on her body that she alleged were from altercations with the then 20-year-old. Ms. Robson also posted video recordings alleging that the striker threatened to assault her if she denied having sexual intercourse with him. United effectively suspended the forward on January 30th.
Upon his arrest in January, the Bradford-born forward spent three consecutive nights in police custody before being released on bail on February 2nd. United would then release a statement in March, 2022 stating that nothing had changed as far as the situation went when fans noticed that the United no.11 still remained listed as a member of the first-team squad on the club’s official website.
Greenwood’s February 2nd bail was then extended twice, first on April 30th and then on June 23rd at a private hearing at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court. The former United academy graduate was then arrested in October last year on suspicion of breaching his bail conditions after he contacted the alleged victim, before all charges were dropped in February this year with the Crown Prosecution Service saying that key witnesses had withdrawn their cooperation from the investigation.
A statement from CPS in February said: “In this case, a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”
United released a statement on Wednesday last week saying that they had completed “the fact-finding phase of the investigation” and that they were in the final stages of making a decision on the future of Mason Greenwood. The club also insisted that they had drawn “extensive evidence and context not in the public domain” and asked for patience, understanding that the situation had provoked strong opinion “based on partial evidence in the public domain.”
With the rest of the world waiting on the verdict from the club, which at this point had become judge, jury and executioner on what had been a legal case but was now a moral one, Manchester United decided to part ways with a player who had been at the club since he was 7 years of age.
A statement put out by the club on Monday read: “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 offences 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 put out a lengthy statement on Monday saying that he was “brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong” and denied doing the things he was accused of early last year.
“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,” said Mason Greenwood. “I was brought up to know that violence or abuse in any relationship is wrong, I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges.”
“However, I fully accept I made mistakes in my relationship, and I take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post. I am learning to understand my responsibilities to set a good example as a professional footballer, and I’m focused on the big responsibility of being a father, as well as a good partner.”
“Today’s decision has been part of a collaborative process between Manchester United, my family and me. The best decision for us all, is for me to continue my football career away from Old Trafford, where my presence will not be a distraction for the club. I thank the club for their support since I joined aged seven. There will always be a part of me which is United. I am enormously grateful to my family and all my loved ones for their support, and it is now for me to repay the trust those around me have shown. I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch.”
As it stands, it remains unclear what the nature of Greenwood’s exit from the club will be. However, a more realistic solution for the club would be an imminent loan move before a permanent move in January or during the 2024 summer transfer window.
According to The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, a loan move away from the club would allow Manchester United to retain commercial control, with a view of selling Mason Greenwood further down the line if he can restore his value on the field, or to one day bring him back to Old Trafford. Although his return seems highly unlikely.
Any decision by Manchester United regarding Mason Greenwood would have been a polarizing one among the club’s fan base with a portion wanting him back and the other half wanting nothing to do with him. The club’s eventual parting of ways with the 21-year-old on Monday while simultaneously releasing a statement that in effect said Greenwood did not commit the acts he was charged with effectively left more than a few people perplexed by the actions of the club.
“You’ve put a public statement out saying that he didn’t do what he was charged with & the material posted online wasn’t the full picture,” said The United Stand’s Mark Goldbridge. “and then you decided to get rid of him. I’m baffled by Manchester United here. I’m absolutely baffled. If you have got new information, put it in the public domain.”
“This lad will forever be tarnished with the evidence that was out online – the audio and the pictures. If you know that’s not true then… maybe you should have put that [evidence] out there and let people know the truth before you made a decision.”
While the ink on Greenwood’s future has now been put to paper, it certainly hasn’t dried. United will now have to decide an effective way of moving on from the former Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year as confusion and anger against the hierarchy rages across the UK and social media.
Just hours after it was announced that Greenwood would be leaving the club, Ligue Un side Monaco FC and Steven Gerrard’s Saudi side Al Ettifaq were reported to have an interest in acquiring the young ace. Al Ettifaq are reported to have presented an offer in excess of £10 million in annual salary to Mason Greenwood were he to make a move to the Middle East. While nothing is officially determined, it surely doesn’t seem like the 5-foot-11 forward will lack employment offers going forward.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Kane Brooker. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.