MAN Utd are facing a mad scramble to get rid of Mason Greenwood in just ten days or face losing millions.
The club today announced their striker, 21, would not be returning to Old Trafford following his suspension.
Greenwood’s future has not been revealed but Utd have ten days to sell him or get him out on loan before the transfer window closes.
If they don’t make the 11pm cut-off on September 1, Utd face paying the England star millions to cut his contract.
They could only go beyond the deadline if Greenwood is picked up by a Saudi club as their window closes on September 20.
The striker could also follow his ex-teammate Fred to Turkey to make it in time for their September 15 cut-off point.
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If Utd do loan him out, there would have to be an agreement between both clubs over who pays what percentage of his salary.
It is understood final details are still being hashed out behind closed doors but the club could potentially lose his value as a player if they cannot loan or sell him.
Greenwood’s £75,000-a-week contract doesn’t expire until 2025 after he signed a four-and-a-half-year deal by the club in 2021.
As the charges against him were dropped by the police, there is no clear breach of the agreement.
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This means Utd may continue to pay his salary for the next two years until he becomes a free agent.
The club has so far paid the star £6million since his arrest in January last year.
Another option would be mutually agreeing a fee to cancel the contract and allow Greenwood to leave even without a potential sale.
Today’s announcement brings an end to Greenwood’s successful playing career with the club.
The striker joined Utd aged just seven and rose through the ranks to land himself a regular spot on the first team.
He faced a five-month internal investigation after he was charged with attempted rape, coercive control and assault.
Greenwood’s future hung in the balance even when the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with the case.
The club said they had taken into account the “wishes, rights and perspective of the alleged victim along with the club’s standards and values, and sought to collate as much information and context as possible”.
Utd confirmed they examined evidence that was “not in the public domain”, including “from those with direct knowledge of the case”.
The club added: “Based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged
“That said, as Mason publicly acknowledges today, he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.
“All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.
“It has therefore been mutually agreed that it would be most appropriate for him to do so away from Old Trafford, and we will now work with Mason to achieve that outcome.”
Greenwood also released a statement where he insisted he had not done what he was accused of but was “learning to understand my responsibilities as a professional footballer”.
He added: “I want to start by saying I understand that people will judge me because of what they have seen and heard on social media, and I know people will think the worst.
“I was brought up to know that violence or abuse is wrong, I did not do the things I was accused of, and in February I was cleared of all charges.
“However, I fully accept I made mistakes, and I take my share of responsibility for the situations which led to the social media post.
“Today’s decision has been part of a collaborative process between Manchester United, my family and me.
“The best decision for us all, is for me to continue my football career away from Old Trafford, where my presence will not be a distraction for the club.
“I thank the club for their support since I joined aged seven. There will always be a part of me which is United. I am enormously grateful to my family and all my loved ones for their support, and it is now for me to repay the trust those around me have shown.
“I intend to be a better footballer, but most importantly a good father, a better person, and to use my talents in a positive way on and off the pitch.”
In 2019, Greenwood became the youngest footballer to play for United in the Champions League when he took to the pitch aged 17.
He has made 129 appearances in total for the Red Devils and netted 35 goals.
In 2020, England manager Gareth Southgate gave the striker his first cap when Greenwood came off the bench in a 1-0 win against Iceland.
He missed out on last year’s Three Lions’ World Cup campaign in Qatar as the case went to court.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
