Manchester United Abandons Plan to Bring Back Mason Greenwood to First Team Following Backlash
Manchester United have decided not to reintegrate Mason Greenwood into the club’s first team following a public backlash. The decision came after a report from The Athletic revealed that United chief executive Richard Arnold had discussed Greenwood’s return with the club’s executive leadership.
Initially, United claimed that no decision had been made on Greenwood’s future. However, the strong criticism and negative reaction to the news prompted the club to hold crisis talks, resulting in the abandonment of their plan to bring back the 21-year-old player.
In a statement released on Monday, Manchester United acknowledged the difficulties associated with Greenwood recommencing his career at Old Trafford. It was mutually agreed that it would be best for him to continue his football career elsewhere, and the club will work with him to achieve that outcome.
The decision to not reinstate Greenwood was influenced by the emails of criticism received by the club and Richard Arnold from United supporters. Concerns regarding the possible return of the player were raised after an internal investigation into allegations of attempted rape, assault, and coercive control against Greenwood was dropped by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The CPS stated that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction as key witnesses withdrew their cooperation from the investigation. Greenwood has consistently denied all the alleged offenses.
In his first public statement since the case was dropped, Greenwood reaffirmed his innocence while acknowledging his mistakes. He expressed his gratitude to his family and loved ones for their support and stated his intention to be a better footballer and a better person on and off the pitch.
The possible reinstatement of Greenwood also faced criticism from members of staff at Manchester United. Some were prepared to consider their positions at the club, while others considered going on strike or resigning. Several members of parliament and Women’s Aid, a charity supporting women and children, also voiced their concerns.
The club’s internal risk assessment documents categorized stakeholders’ reactions to Greenwood’s return, assuming that charities specializing in violence against women would be “hostile.” Women’s Aid criticized this assumption and highlighted their longstanding work with football clubs and organizations on the issue.
The Athletic further reported that Manchester United had made advanced plans for Greenwood’s return, which included guidelines for images captured during training sessions and strategies for handling media inquiries.
The decision to abandon the plan was welcomed by critics, including Member of Parliament Andrew Western and television presenter Rachel Riley. Riley warned that she would withdraw her support for the club if Greenwood returned.
Greenwood, who trained privately during the investigation, was absent from Manchester United’s pre-season tour in the United States. Manager Erik ten Hag expressed his openness to Greenwood’s return but emphasized that it was ultimately a club decision. Ten Hag and football director John Murtough were reported to be supportive of Greenwood’s return.
While Greenwood had attracted interest from clubs in Italy for a loan deal, the discussions ultimately led to the signing of Rasmus Hojlund by Atalanta, in which United was involved.
Having been with Manchester United since the age of seven, Greenwood has made 129 appearances for the club, scoring 35 goals. As the club moves forward without him, his future in football remains uncertain.