You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Beleaguered Manchester United player Mason Greenwood might fashion himself to be the Dark Knight, but he is the joker at best, making even the club’s decision makers look like clowns.
The youngster is a prodigious talent who came through the club’s academy. Having taken to senior football like a fish to water, the sky was the limit for the 21-year-old, who looked primed for superstardom.
But a mere five years after making his Red Devils debut, he is set to leave Old Trafford in disgrace and his tail between his legs. While his career has taken a downward tumble of epic proportions, it is Manchester United who have come out of the fiasco looking worse.
Greenwood’s name had taken a hit following the leaked videos, images and audio clips that indicated him displaying abusive behavior towards his girlfriend Harriet Robson. It caused an instant flurry, and the player was suspended by the club pending further investigation. Little would we know that this was the only major decision that the club would get right in the fiasco.
Greenwood does himself no favours!
The compilation of proof against the 21-year-old that is in the public domain, especially social media is rather damning. The best foot forward for the club and the player was to lie low and let the investigation take its flow.
With Nike and EA Sports also making moves following Greenwood’s arrest, the onus was on the player to maintain a profile. Given that he was also accused on accusations of sexual assault and threats to kill, it was a pig-headed move to contact his accuser.
This blatant disregard of rules saw him breach his conditions for bail, further denting his image. It is fair to say that Greenwood’s antics paints a picture of unreliability. He eventually received bail last October subject to several conditions before the charges were dropped early this February.
The key aspect here is that he was not cleared of the charges. Instead, the charges were dropped, a notable distinction that he would use to his advantage. In his recent post, he claimed to have been cleared of all wrongdoing, a massive over-exaggeration that lends him an air of innocence that is yet unproven.
The accusations were dropped while key witness refused to testify. Greenwood’s best bet would have been to prove his innocence in a trial. Surely, people will draw their own conclusions but the 21-year-old can only be branded ‘innocent’ on a technicality.
A history of wrongdoing?
While he did own up to his mistakes and promised to do better, his actions over the course of the investigation showcased a lack of reliability. More so, Greenwood’s was not an isolated incident given that he was charged for controlling and coercive behaviour from 2018.
It is fair to say that the Englishman’s words lack conviction with his actions showing otherwise. It is not the first time that he has been caught in a storm either. Harriet Robson’s father released a statement claiming that his daughter’s phone was hacked and she did not want the incriminating images to be made public. Surely that is missing the point as the incident still occurred, whether it was public knowledge or not.
Greenwood’s first senior English debut ended in humiliation as he and Manchester City star Phil Foden were sent packing by Gareth Southgate after the pair met with women in their hotel room in Iceland. This blatant disregard for rules, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is unbecoming of a professional. Greenwood was never called up for the senior side again.
Foden has since gone on to earn plaudits for his accomplishments on the field, unlike Greenwood, whose headlines are dominated by his off-the-field antics. One could argue that Manchester United should have taken stock of the situation at the first red flag itself and kept a closer watch on their player.
A lack of moral compass
Manchester United did the right thing in suspending the player when the accusations surfaced but have since failed to show a moral compass and do the right thing, even if it means having to take a hit.
The club originally planned to bring Greenwood back into the fold following an internal investigation. Given the lack of moral leadership and the conclusion they came to, one has to question what exactly was being investigated the past few months. Who were the stakeholders consulted? Was the women’s team’s feelings on the matter taken into account? What about the female fanbase?
Several questions need to be asked about the investigation and the club will need to make public the due process followed. If The Athletic is to be trusted, the fact that Manchester United took stock of public perception rather than the underlying events of the case while making their decision indicates that the club’s mind was made up to bring the player back into the fold.
Given that they were planning out what training images should be released and how manager Erik ten Hag would react to subsequent media enquiry, it points to a media blitzkrieg aimed at showcasing just one side of the coin. Surely the club should have taken stock of the Ryan Giggs saga and learned their lessons.
A leadership that appears more focused on financial might rather than morality, they could have gone the other way had the reputation of the club been worth its weight in gold. Even if they ignored individual misconduct, you would assume that bringing the club’s name into disrepute would call for a heavy handed approach. Surely, at least one board member would have questioned whether bringing back Greenwood was worth the toxicity that could permeate into the playing roster.
More so, the club’s statement that they will back an employee who has been with them since the age of seven is disturbing in its own way. Questions need to be asked about what education the club has educated their ward in and if efforts are being taken to ensure those currently under their wing are taken care of and educated on not just being excellent sportsmen but also reliable role models. Wouldn’t young players be better off knowing their actions have consequences rather than being shown that the club will give them a facelift should things go awry?
In the end, Manchester United opted to end their association with the player. It is notable to remember that it was a massive public outcry that forced their hand and not an initiative taken at the highest levels at Old Trafford. It is perhaps clear where the club’s priorities lie regardless of how they try to spin it now.
The buck does not stop at the board room either. Manager Erik ten Hag should also be held accountable for not taking a stand on the case. But then the Dutchman previously backed Marc Overmars to make a ‘romantic’ return to Ajax after he was fired for sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues. That speaks for itself.
If the lack of spine and morality runs deep at both the board room level and the management, what is stopping it from permeating into the playing roster?
Talent over Morality?
Greenwood’s fate has also led to a flurry of activity on social media with the fanbase divided. While a majority of fans want the player and club to part ways, there remains a faction keen to see him back in red.
The 21-year-old is truly a gifted player but whether the taint he brings to the jersey is worth the potential success on the field is debatable. Football players are more than sportsmen but role models who children and society look up to. Surely, standards have to be met and appearances kept.
It was Liverpool legend Bill Shankly who said that ‘Football is not a matter of life and death, I can assure you, it’s far more important than that’. That sentiment holds true for a large section of the fans, but success should not come at the cost of morality.
One does not have to look far to make a suitable comparison. Marcus Rashford is one of the club’s best players and is actively involved in making life easier for the underprivileged off the field. The fact that his philanthropic pursuits are, at times, referred to as distractions during off days on the pitch speaks volumes about that section of the fanbase.
Thankfully, the majority voiced their dissatisfaction and forced the club to do the right thing. Serious questions need to be asked as to why a parting of the ways was not the initial approach to begin with.
It would also appear that as long as a player proves himself to be an asset on the field, a lot of his wrong doings off it can be ignored. It is not something unique to Manchester United either. Arsenal’s Thomas Partey and Lorient’s Benjamin Mendy come to mind.
Greenwood is a footballing asset and even if he is sold off, Manchester United could secure themselves a decent transfer fee. There are, after all, several clubs still ready to take a punt on him. The club could, in fact, donate whatever amount they secure and donate it to charities that help domestic abuse victims to make a point. But seeing how they have gone about it so far, we wouldn’t bet on it.
What next?
While Greenwood’s career might or might not recover, Manchester United’s image has taken a proper hit during the saga. The club’s recent moves have backfired spectacularly and now they face the task of rebuilding their image off the field.
There was a lot of hue and cry about how Liverpool dealt with the Luis Suarez vs Patrice Evra incident back when it happened. Now that the shoes are on the other feet, Manchester United have similarly failed to show moral fiber or courage to make difficult decisions.
CEO Richard Arnold’s open letter appeared to be a faux pas at best and will count for little unless proactive steps are taken to bring in tangible changes. The leadership at the club has let them down big time, and the onus is now on them to rebuild the trust and reputation that befits one of football’s great institutions.
It will be a long road back for Greenwood. Even longer for Manchester United. Knowing them, the Red Devils will now be seeking an immediate distraction that will take the focus away from their handling of Greenwood. Lo and behold, right on cue, the takeover news is back in the papers.
