Erik ten Hag will face questions on Mason Greenwood’s Manchester United future on Friday lunchtime.
The United boss will hold his preview press conference for Saturday’s home game against Crystal Palace at midday and is certain to be asked about the forward’s future at Old Trafford.
England international Greenwood, 21, saw charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault against him dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on Thursday. It came just over a year after the forward was arrested.
However, United will now ‘conduct their own process before determining the next steps’ as they decide whether Greenwood should return to play for them.
The club said in a statement: ‘Manchester United notes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped. The club will now conduct its own process before determining next steps. We will not make any further comment until that process is complete.’
Greenwood himself said: ‘I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support. There will be no further comment at this time.’
Ten Hag will wish to focus on the Premier League encounter with Palace but he will be grilled on the Greenwood situation.
The forward has not played under Ten Hag – his last appearance was against West Ham in January last year, when Ralf Rangnick was in interim charge.
But Greenwood was listed among the under-21 players in United’s Premier League squad at the beginning of the season and his profile and biography remains on the official United website.
We should find out on Friday whether Greenwood is named in United’s UEFA Europa League squad for the knockout stages with a two-legged play-off with Barcelona coming up this month.
His biography on the club website makes no mention of the charges against him with the last update mentioning a new contract until 2025 he signed in 2021 and his passing of 100 appearances for the club.
Given Greenwood – who has a £70,000-a-week contract until 2025 with the option of a further year – no longer faces charges and the prospect of a trial, there is nothing legally stopping United from re-integrating him into the squad.
Should they decide he does have a future at the club, fitness would clearly be an issue for a man who scored 35 goals in 129 matches but who has now not played for more than a year.
Well-placed sources believe United may look at paying up Greenwood’s contract and releasing him or seek to reach a financial settlement. Whether the player would have a legal argument against such a move is unclear.
