MASON Greenwood’s potential new salary has been revealed as the suspended Manchester United star eyes a major career change.
The Bradford-born ace is considering a move to China to continue as a player if United axe him over sex attack claims.
If that transfer was made, he could earn up to £2.7m a year, which is the maximum allowed for foreign players in the Chinese Super League under a salary cap imposed by the country’s FA last March.
This works out at about £50,000 a week for a full season.
Charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control against Greenwood, 21, were dropped earlier this month after several key witnesses withdrew.
However, he remains suspended while the club carry out an internal investigation.
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If higher-ups at Old Trafford do make the decision to fire Greenwood, his financial prospects would likely be severely impacted, even factoring in possible earnings in China.
For comparison, his teammate Marcus Rashford is reportedly set to re-sign with the club for up to £300,000 a week.
It comes after major sponsor Nike dropped Greenwood despite the allegations against him collapsing.
According to David Winnie, former professional footballer and head of the sports law department at Blaser Mills solicitors, the loss of sponsors could see the striker lose “millions” in possible earnings.
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David told The Sun Online: “The financial benefits [of the sponsorship deal] would have been significant given how far he came in his career.
“Prior to the charges he was good for sponsors…[but] now there’s a residual stigma for brands.”
He added that major brands “probably wouldn’t want to be associated” with Greenwood “if or until his career picks back up again” and that they will be “slow to connect with him again”.
However, David did feel there was some hope left for the England international, saying: “I don’t see why he couldn’t bring sponsors back in future.
“He’s now free of any legal doubts…he’s not toxic…he’s back on the horizon, but it’s a very far horizon.
“He’s the one who has to bring himself back…by playing football, getting his head down and doing the right things off the pitch.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
