Manchester United have finally reached a decision over controversial striker Mason Greenwood, with the club officially announcing that the player will continue his career elsewhere in a dramatic U-turn according to The Athletic.
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Mason Greenwood To Leave Man Utd
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Man Utd Confirm Greenwood’s Departure
Prior to today’s announcement, reports circulated that the Red Devils had informed senior staff that the club intended to bring Greenwood back to the club. Staff members were left disappointed with the decision made by United’s executives, with multiple employees stating they would strike if such a protest materialised.
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The club’s intentions were widely criticised, with a survey from The Athletic reporting that 58% of fans felt that Greenwood should never play for the side again.
The nature of the scandal also reverberated politically as Andrew Weston, the Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston, voiced his disappointment over the United’s handling of the situation.
Mason Greenwood Releases Statement
The ongoing saga dates back to January 2022, when the young striker was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault, following images and videos leaked to social media linked to the forward. Charges were dropped in February of this year, while Manchester United delayed an immediate decision on the youngster’s future.
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Following today’s announcement from the club, Greenwood released a statement, accepting his share of responsibility which led to the social media posts. He also supports the decision made by the side, citing the need to not be a distraction.
Next Steps For Man Utd
Richard Arnold, CEO of Manchester United, has confirmed that they will continue to offer support to a player who has been there since the age of seven, but that they need to move on minimising distractions. In his open letter, the CEO stated that they believe: “Mason did not commit the acts he was charged with” and that the backlash to his return would have been debilitating to his career and private reform.
As the saga concludes, the team can now focus on events on the pitch, as they look to get what has so far been a rocky start to the season on track.
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