MASON Greenwood will be included in the EA Sports FC 24 video game – but there’s a catch.
The popular football game is due to be released on September 29 and comes after the controversial striker was dropped from FIFA 22 following his arrest.
Greenwood is currently on loan to Getafe from Manchester United after the charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control against him were dropped in February.
A statement from EA Sports said: “EA Sports FC 24 authentically reflects the active rosters of teams and clubs in the real world of football.
“As he is now part of an active roster with Getafe CF, Mason Greenwood will be included in FC 24.”
The 21-year-old though will not appear in the popular Ultimate Team mode as he wasn’t part of an active squad at the time of the cut-off date by EA.
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Ultimate Team is a game mode where you unlock players to add to a virtual squad – which is then used to play against others online.
When Greenwood last appeared in a FIFA update on January 27, last year, he had an overall rating of 79 with 90 potential.
EA added: “As Greenwood was not part of an active roster at the time of our cut-off date for final team and player data, he will not appear in Ultimate Team at launch.”
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 with the charges dropped on February 2 this year.
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Man Utd launched an internal investigation and announced in August Greenwood would leave the club and he was subsequently loaned to the Spanish La Liga side.
A statement from United said: “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.
“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.”
Another popular video game, Football Manager, announced last week that Greenwood will be reinstated to their game.
A Sports Interactive spokesperson told The Athletic: “Players or officials serving indefinite suspensions from football, for any reason, are removed from Football Manager at the first opportunity.
“When suspensions or playing restrictions are lifted, the player or official will be reinstated in-game at the next scheduled update.”
The news comes after Greenwood’s girlfriend Harriet Robson was reportedly seen out and about with some of the Getafe Wags.
Greenwood signed with the Spanish side just before the end of the transfer window last month.
Greenwood was later unveiled to a stadium of fans and has been seen training in footage shown on the club’s social media accounts.
But a week-long break from club football owing to an international break has delayed his first appearance for Getafe.
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And Getafe is understood to have been pulling out all the stops to ensure he is accommodated off the pitch ahead of his debut.
Despite only signing on loan ten days ago, he is expected to feature against Osasuna on September 17.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk