According to the Sun, Manchester United players are reportedly open to welcoming Mason Greenwood back to the dressing room after the criminal case against him was dropped.
The 21-year-old had been arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault based on accusations made by his girlfriend online.
During his time in custody, Greenwood faced additional arrests for suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill. As a result, he was suspended by Man United until further notice and has not played since.
However, with the criminal case now dropped, his teammates are said to be willing to have him back in the team’s environment.
Greenwood was initially set to stand trial on charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. However, the proceedings were discontinued in February.
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The Crown Prosecution Service made this decision due to the “withdrawal of key witnesses” and the emergence of “new material,” which led them to conclude that there was no longer a realistic chance of conviction. As a result, Greenwood is now free to resume his football career.
Despite the dropped charges, the English star’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain as the club conducts an internal investigation.
The English forward has two more years left on his contract, and a loan move for the 2023-24 season seems more probable than termination.
In a potentially positive development for the young striker, it has been stated that members of Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad at United would be happy to see him return.
Especially among academy players, a sense of “loyalty” towards Greenwood is felt, which could bode well for his prospects of being welcomed back to the team.
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United are anticipated to make a definitive decision on the Academy graduate’s future before their Premier League campaign begins, which is scheduled to start at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 14.
Italian clubs Atalanta BC and Juventus have reportedly engaged in discussions regarding a potential loan move for the talented attacker. During his time at United, Greenwood has been productive, contributing 35 goals and 12 assists in 129 appearances.
Earlier reports suggested that the club’s chief sponsor, Adidas, had approved Greenwood’s return to the team. However, Adidas has since denied these claims, refuting any such agreement.
