Man Utd bid farewell to Greenwood
"Those involved, including Mason, are aware of the difficulty this player faces when restarting his career at Man Utd. Therefore, the two sides agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to leave the pitch. Old Trafford", Man Utd's announcement reads.
On February 3, Man Utd investigated internally to obtain evidence and testimonies from individuals related to Greenwood's case. The results of this investigation have not been released, but since last week, there have been rumors that the Man Utd board, led by CEO Richard Arnold, is preparing to bring the 21-year-old striker back to the club.
However, this information created a strong wave of protests from the public. Feminists say that Greenwood does not deserve to wear the Man Utd shirt anymore. The club's women's team also exerted great pressure when many people announced that they would boycott Man Utd if Greenwood returned.
"Today's decision is part of a collaborative investigation between Man Utd, myself and my family. The best option right now is for me to play football again somewhere else, not Old Trafford. At that time, the "My appearance will not affect the club. I thank Man Utd for supporting me from the age of seven until now," Greenwood said of his situation.
Greenwood was arrested on January 30, 2022, when images and videos related to the assault of Harriet Robson were spread on social networks. The 21-year-old striker is accused of "repeatedly engaging" in controlling and coercing his girlfriend for nearly four years - including making threats and making offensive comments on social media. He is also charged with attempting to rape the woman on October 21, 2021, and allegedly assaulting her between December 12 and December 31, 2021.
On February 2, Great Manchester Police (GMP) said criminal proceedings had been suspended by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The GMP said it was no longer possible to convict Greenwood in fact, after key witnesses withdrew from the investigation. On the same day, Man Utd announced that it would conduct an internal investigation into the incident. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether Greenwood should be returned to the club or terminated. Therefore, he has not been able to return to training, but still receives a weekly salary of nearly $ 100,000 from the club under a contract until the summer of 2025.
Arnold also wrote a letter to fans about the Greenwood incident. "Although we have decided to let Mason leave, this is not the end of this matter. The club will continue to offer to help both the alleged victim and Mason," he wrote.
