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Man United players ‘are DEEPLY uncomfortable’ with the idea of Mason Greenwood returning to the club, after the CPS dropped all charges of attempted rape and assault against him.
Manchester United Women would not be comfortable with a possible return to the club for Mason Greenwood, according to reports.
Greenwood was charged with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behavior, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm in October 2022.
However, in early February it was announced that the charges against him would be dropped, with a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service citing the emergence of new material which made conviction no longer a reasonable expectation.
Greenwood, who has scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for United since making his debut in March 2019, was suspended by the club on January 30 last year, shortly after his arrest by Greater Manchester police.
And Athletic reports that some players within the women’s team are “deeply uncomfortable” with the prospect of a player’s return to the men’s team.
The Athletic reports some Manchester United Women players would be ‘deeply uncomfortable’ with Mason Greenwood’s return
Greenwood was charged with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behavior, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm in October 2022.
The charges were subsequently dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2023.
The sentiment is echoed by the men’s team, who are also believed to be uncomfortable with the idea of a return for the 21-year-old, and the team fear it could derail their progress.
Greenwood can technically play for United as he has not been found guilty or not guilty of the charges that were dropped.
But it is not yet clear if the player will return to the Red Devils team, since he was only suspended by the club in January with full pay.
And since the charges were dropped, Greenwood has kept Manchester United hashtags on his Instagram page, as well as links to his sponsor Nike, which ended its connection to the player after his arrest.
Manchester United Women’s Supporters’ Club founder Natalie Burrell has said she does not want to see Greenwood in Manchester United’s famous red shirt again.
Burrell also suggested that allowing the forward to return to the fold would undo the work done by charities like Her Game Too, which promote women’s engagement in football.
“I don’t think I should play for Manchester United again,” Burrell told the Athletic. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world. They need to make a statement and letting him back would be the worst thing they could do.
“It would set our club back in terms of what we’re trying to do with our women’s team and campaigns like Her Game Too, which are trying to encourage women to play and watch football.”
Manchester United Women have also launched an improbable title bid this season, as has the men’s team.
Manchester United issued a statement saying they “will carry out their own process before determining next steps” after Mason Greenwood saw the charges against him dropped.
Greenwood, 21, went to court in November on the now-dropped charges of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behavior.
“I definitely don’t want it back and I’m sure they won’t, whether it’s selling it in the summer, I don’t know.”
“People just think they are going to cancel him (his contract runs until 2025 and he has the option of another year) and maybe they will, that would be a real statement, but I would be surprised. If they just sold it, that would be a nice statement too.
“I just don’t want to see him train. I don’t want to see him in a (United) kit. I don’t want to see him come out at Old Trafford ever again.