Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold told senior staff that Mason Greenwood would be returning to the club two weeks ago, according to reports.
The Red Devils carried out a six-month internal investigation after the 21-year-old striker’s charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped in February.
Arnold reportedly informed United’s leadership team of the plan to bring back Greenwood, who has been out of action since his arrest in January 2022, two weeks ago on August 4.
According to The Athletic, Arnold intended to record and share a video explaining Greenwood’s reintegration with the men’s first team to staff and the general public.
Arnold’s original plan was for Greenwood not to be involved in any appearances with the club’s charitable arm, the Manchester United Foundation, despite his return to Erik ten Hag’s first team squad.
Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold told senior staff two weeks ago that Mason Greenwood (pictured) would be returning to the club after his dropped criminal charges
Arnold (pictured) reportedly intended to record and share a video explaining the 21-year-old forward’s reintegration to Manchester United staff and the general public over a fortnight ago
The Premier League club, who initially remained silent on the issue for several months while undergoing their own internal six-month probe, released a statement on Wednesday.
It read: ‘Following the dropping of all charges against Mason Greenwood in February 2023, Manchester United has conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations made against him.
‘This has drawn on extensive evidence and context not in the public domain, and we have heard from numerous people with direct involvement or knowledge of the case.
‘Throughout this process, the welfare and perspective of the alleged victim has been central to the club’s inquiries, and we respect her right to lifelong anonymity.
‘We also have responsibilities to Mason as an employee, as a young person who has been with the club since the age of seven, and as a new father with a partner.
‘The fact-finding phase of our investigation is now complete, and we are in the final stages of making a decision on Mason’s future.
‘Contrary to media speculation, that decision has not yet been made and is currently the subject of intensive internal deliberation. Responsibility ultimately rests with the Chief Executive Officer.
Manchester United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche initially broke silence on Greenwood’s future on Wednesday morning
‘Once made, the decision will be communicated and explained to the club’s internal and external stakeholders.
‘This has been a difficult case for everyone associated with Manchester United, and we understand the strong opinions it has provoked based on the partial evidence in the public domain. We ask for patience as we work through the final stages of this carefully considered process.’
United’s chief operating officer Collette Roche also opened up on the investigation on Wednesday, describing the probe as ‘detailed and thorough’.
Mail Sport reported last week that the Red Devils had moved a step closer towards bringing back Greenwood after seeking final approval from their women’s team, club sponsors and fans’ groups.
Roche said: ‘We’ve done a really detailed and thorough internal investigation and we’ve asked as many people as we can around what happened and try to understand it beyond the original investigation done by the police.
‘You’d expect us to engage with people who were relevant in terms of stakeholder groups.
‘And now we just need to make the decision. That decision is firmly a decision that’s on us.’
In February, the Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges against Greenwood had been dropped following the withdrawal of ‘key witnesses’ in the case.
After the criminal case was closed, Manchester United vowed to ‘conduct its own process before determining next steps’. Arnold led the investigation, which was assisted by Roche, the club’s legal counsel Patrick Stewart, their communications director Ellie Norman and Red Devils football director John Murtough.
The striker was charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive control in January 2022
The striker has been training privately while the club makes their decision on his reintegration
While waiting to learn his fate, Greenwood has been pictured training away from the Manchester United training camp this summer.
It was initially thought that the Red Devils were considering a loan move abroad for the forward so that he could stay out of the spotlight for a little while longer.
However, following Arnold’s reported reintegration plan, Greenwood could well return to the fray at Old Trafford after over 18 months out of action.
Manchester United’s players believe Greenwood deserves a second chance at Old Trafford and would welcome his return.
However, a group of Red Devils fans protested the prospect of Greenwood’s comeback ahead of their club’s Premier League season opener against Wolves on Monday.
The United supporters made their feelings clear outside Old Trafford with a banner reading: ‘Female fans demand. End violence against women. No Greenwood return.’
Another fan was seen raising a sign at Old Trafford which said: ‘Don’t leave the decision up to the women’s team you spineless motherless f****.’
It is understood Erik ten Hag’s players would welcome the youngster back at Old Trafford
A group of Man United supporters protested before the club’s first home game of the season, outlining their opposition to reintegrate 21-year-old striker Greenwood into the first team
Last week, one of the organisers of the protest insisted: ‘It’s time for the club to stand up and make the right decision.
‘It’s time to say, “We have high standards at United about how we expect players to conduct themselves and, if you do not meet those standards, you need to be moved out.”
‘This is a tipping point for the club. Are they going to side with commercialism and trophies and money?
‘Or are they going to take the side of match-going fans and the club being a social and community institution that we can be proud of, and proud to have as part of our identity?’