A year after his arrest, Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is free to resume a footballing career that was set to make him one of the game’s biggest stars.
Where he goes from here, however, is unknown.
Greenwood, 21, who also played for the England national team, was this week charged by the Crown Prosecution Service with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior and assault.
While he is likely to be keen to resume playing after 12 months out of action, United say he will have to wait a while.
On Thursday, United said it would “conduct its own process before determining next steps.”
No time frame has been put on that undertaking and Greenwood is not expected to return to training or be considered for selection until it is over.
United manager Erik ten Haag said on Friday, “I can’t say anything about that. I refer to the club’s statement and at the moment, I can’t add anything.”
United is one of the most famous soccer clubs in the world, with billions of fans and commercial deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The decision on how to handle Greenwood is likely to be about more than just soccer, with the club’s image and commercial appeal also being considered.
On the field, Ten Haag would benefit from a player with the potential to be a key figure for both his club and his national team.
“He’s a special talent, a special kid that we’re going to look after and try to develop into a top, top player,” former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said in 2020.
By that stage, aged 18, Greenwood had already broken into the first team and was scoring regularly with explosive pace. He earned comparisons with United great Wayne Rooney and looked destined to become the club’s next icon.
At a time when Ten Haag is in the market for a replacement for departed striker Cristiano Ronaldo, Greenwood would be an ideal contender and he is already being touted as United’s long-term centre-forward.
That bright future was brought to an abrupt halt last January when images and videos on social media led to his arrest and subsequent suspension by United.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the charges were dropped because “the combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light meant there was no realistic prospect of a conviction,” adding that “its duty to keep matters Tha” continuous review.
While prosecutors acknowledged that the case against Greenwood was to be closed, posts calling for his arrest were widely seen and heard on social media. If he plays for them again it could have an impact on United’s reputation and brand.
Sportswear giant Nike, which said it was “deeply concerned by the troubling allegations,” ended its sponsorship deal with Greenwood last year.
Due to the nature of the allegations, the club’s recently formed women’s team, growing in popularity and number of female fans, may also be considered.
“We, as a society, must work together to show women that they will be heard, believed and helped. Stop any woman from reporting sexual and domestic abuse should,” said Farah Nazir, chief executive of the anti-domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid.
Greenwood may determine that his career would be better served by making a fresh start away from United, perhaps in another country. He is likely to be a target for opposing fans, especially if he stays in England, which could affect his form and development as he attempts to rebuild his career.
Greenwood is free to play again, but his career path looks far from straight.