Mason Greenwood planning for ‘unthinkable’ transfer in case Manchester United block first-team return
Mason Greenwood is prepared to make a dramatic transfer to Asia to restart his football career, according to reports, should Manchester United release him following their investigation.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on Thursday that charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive conduct, and one count of assault resulting in actual bodily harm had been dropped against the 21-year-old.
A spokesperson for the CPS later disclosed that a key witness had recanted, which, combined with the discovery of new evidence, rendered a conviction “no longer a realistic possibility.”
Greenwood was arrested in January of 2022 and has not played for United since. The club is currently conducting an internal investigation to determine its next steps.
The forward will not train or play for the club while this “process” is carried out, and his return to the first-team squad would likely be met with significant backlash.
Now, according to The Sun, Greenwood believes he may not be able to play for United or any club in England due to the likely backlash, and he is willing to travel very far to resume playing football.
Unbelievably, a source close to the striker claims he would be willing to play in China and would be hesitant to play for United again, even if he were welcomed back, because he felt they provided little support when he was initially arrested.
A source told The Sun: ‘‘At the time he was adamant he didn’t want to put on the red shirt again. He felt like the club didn’t stand by him.
“He said he would be happy to go and play in China as long as that meant he was getting paid well and was playing. His view may have softened over the last few months, but he was not happy at all.”
Greenwood reportedly believes he would struggle emotionally to deal with the abuse he would receive from opposing fans if he played in England again.
The Guardian reports that United staff are ‘divided’ over whether the youngster should be allowed to resume his career at Old Trafford, with many dismayed at the prospect of Greenwood’s return despite feeling a ‘duty of care’ toward a player who joined the academy at age seven.
After the charges were dropped, Greenwood issued a brief statement in which he said, “I am relieved that this matter is now dropped, and I would like to thank my family, friends, and loved ones for their support.” At this time, there will be no further comment.’
Friday at a press conference, manager Erik ten Hag deflected questions. “I can’t give a comment about the process,” he said. “I can’t say anything about it. I refer to the statement of the club and at this moment I can’t add anything.”
Mason Greenwood planning for ‘unthinkable’ transfer in case Manchester United block first-team return
