Manchester United terminates Mason Greenwood's contract

Manchester United have terminated the contract of Mason Greenwood, the club announced on Monday. The 21-year-old forward had been suspended by the club since January 2022 after being accused of rape and assault by his girlfriend.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the charges against Greenwood in February, but Manchester United said they had concluded their own internal investigation and decided to terminate his contract.

"Mason Greenwood will no longer be part of the Manchester United football club," the club said in a statement. "The decision has been taken following a review of all the evidence available.

"We understand the decision will be difficult for many of our fans, but we believe it is the right one."

Greenwood was a promising young player who had made 129 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 35 goals. He had also been capped once by England.

However, his career was derailed by the allegations against him. He was arrested in January 2022 and released on bail pending further investigation. The CPS decided to drop the charges in February, saying there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction".

Despite the charges being dropped, Manchester United said they had concluded their own investigation and decided to terminate Greenwood's contract. The club said they had taken into account the wishes of the alleged victim, as well as their own standards and values.

Greenwood has not commented on the termination of his contract. He is now a free agent and can join another club if he finds one willing to sign him.

The termination of Greenwood's contract is a significant development in the case. It is a clear sign that Manchester United do not believe that he is a fit and proper person to represent the club. It is also a warning to other players that their behavior will be closely monitored.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Greenwood. He is still a young player with a lot of potential, but he will have to rebuild his career from scratch. He will also have to face the consequences of the allegations against him, which have damaged his reputation.