Man Utd set timeframe for Greenwood return; player’s ‘desire’ is to come back ‘as soon as possible’

Mason Greenwood has reportedly told Man Utd that he wants to return to the club ‘as soon as possible’ after the charges against him were dropped.

It was confirmed in February that the charges against Greenwood – including attempted rape and assault – had been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

A spokesperson for the CPS subsequently confirmed that this decision was made after it was concluded that there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”. 

“We have a duty to keep cases under continuous review,” the spokesperson said.

“In this case, a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case.

“We have explained our decision to all parties. We would always encourage any potential victims to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”

Man Utd have since started their internal investigation into Greenwood’s behaviour before they decide whether he will play for the club again.

It has been reported in recent weeks that the staff at Man Utd are ‘split’ over whether Greenwood should make a comeback. 

The Daily Mail are now reporting that ‘Greenwood has been told he will not return to training at Manchester United until next season at the earliest with the club’s international investigation into his arrest on rape charges unlikely to be completed before the summer’.

The 21-year-old has been suspended by the club ‘since January 2022’ but he has ‘held extensive talks with United officials in recent weeks’.

READ MORE: Man Utd forward Mason Greenwood has not been found ‘innocent’; that’s important

The report adds that Greenwood ‘has emphasised his desire to return as soon as possible and stressed his commitment to remaining at Old Trafford, where he is under contract until 2025’.

Man Utd are said to be ‘adamant’ that their final decision ‘will not be rushed’. They are ‘continuing to conduct due diligence into the circumstances surrounding his arrest and his off-field conduct’.

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell recently reported that Greenwood ‘wasn’t shy about calling Man Utd team-mates sh*t’. 

‘Greenwood’s confidence had been established in his early days at United’s academy. At the age of 16, he could be brutal with his choice of words when dismissing the credentials of…