RICHARD ARNOLD will have the final say over whether Mason Greenwood plays for Manchester United again.
Greenwood, 21, has not played for the Red Devils since being arrested in January 2022.
The forward was subsequently charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
All charges were dropped in February this year, after which United launched their own internal investigation.
As part of a lengthy statement released today, the Red Devils confirmed: “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.
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
“Once made, the decision will be communicated and explained to the club’s internal and external stakeholders.”
It is claimed that Arnold had been planning to release a video explaining the decision to bring Greenwood back into the fold, prior to United’s own statement.
The club was reportedly aiming to release the video message to staff and fans on August 4 announcing the striker’s return.
This was mysteriously scrapped, however, with Greenwood’s United future still in the balance.
Most read in Football
Arnold, 52, has been United’s CEO since succeeding Ed Woodward in February, 2022.
He attended the King’s School in Chester, before going on to study at the University of Bristol.
Following his studies he went on to work in a senior management role for PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1993.
He then joined Global Crossing Europe six years later.
Arnold entered the football world when he joined Man United in 2007, initially being appointed a group commercial director.
He gradually worked his way up the administrative chain at Old Trafford, eventually landing a seat on the board.
Before succeeding Woodward, who he first met during his university days, Arnold oversaw sponsorship contracts.
Since taking on the CEO gig at United, Arnold has appointed manager Erik ten Hag.
During this period, the Red Devils secured Champions League qualification last season, in addition to winning the League Cup.
Following the disastrous 2021-22 campaign, Arnold was filmed branding United’s season a “f***ing nightmare” in a Cheshire pub.
After catching wind of a plot by a group of supporters to protest outside his house, Arnold met with 12 fans at the Boot Inn pub in Willington, Cheshire – pulling no punches when it came to Woodward’s reign as CEO.
He said: “We’ve f***ing burned through cash. We spent a billion pounds on players, we spent more than anyone in Europe.
“I am not thrilled with where we are, it doesn’t sit easy and we’ve got to get this sorted.
“You can’t go to our training ground and go ‘show me where that billion pounds is here’.
“I don’t think we’ve done well with the money we’ve spent historically. We’ve blown through an enormous amount of money.
“Last year was a f***ing nightmare. I was hating every minute of it.”
Arnold was claimed to have confirmed at the meeting that United were trying to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona, a deal that did not go on to be completed.
The Red Devils signed Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony during Arnold’s first transfer window as CEO.
They went on to release Cristiano Ronaldo in November last year, before signing Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer on loan in January.
Read More on The Sun
United have spent around £160m so far this summer on Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana.
Ten Hag’s side won their Premier League season opener 1-0 against Wolves on Monday night.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
