MANCHESTER United exile Mason Greenwood’s future is about to be revealed with three options open to him as football’s transfer deadline looms today.
The ex-England striker has been offered a possible escape route with another UEFA Champions League club after United announced they were cutting ties.
GettyMason Greenwood has been told he has no future at Manchester United[/caption]
Greenwood is said to have been touted to Italian club Lazio while Besiktas in Turkey are also thought to be interested – with fans there welcoming the idea.
A second option is securing a release from Premier League giants United and becoming a free agent.
There have also been suggestions that he gives up football entirely to spend more time with his family.
United and Greenwood announced on Monday last week his imminent departure from the Old Trafford club.
The player said in a statement that day: “I thank the club for their support since I joined aged seven.
“There will always be a part of me which is United.
“I am enormously grateful to my family and all my loved ones for their support, and it is now for me to repay the trust those around me have shown.”
Greenwood has not played for United since his arrest on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive control in January last year.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges against him in February though he remained suspended by his club.
United announced on August 21 he would be departing in what they called a “collaborative decision”.
Reports this morning have linked him with Lazio, who – like United – have qualified for this season’s Champions League, having finished runners-up to Napoli in Italy.
Lazio – managed by ex-Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri – were yesterday drawn in the same Champions League group as Scottish Premiership winners Celtic.
They previously signed an England international in 1992, when Paul Gascoigne joined from Tottenham Hotspur.
Besiktas are also said to be considering a loan move for Greenwood.
But if no one swoops in time, United face the prospect of paying off his £75,000-a-week deal to release him – potentially handing him almost £8million to leave.
The summer transfer window closes at 11pm today, the cut-off point for English clubs to buy or sell players under contract.
Yet Saudi Arabian clubs can go on making signings until September 20.
Recent recruits to the Saudi league include Greenwood’s former United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid‘s France striker Karim Benzema and Brazil forward Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, now manager of Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, has rejected rumours of a swoop for Greenwood.
Gerrard did sign this summer England vice-captain and midfielder Jordan Henderson from Liverpool, on wages of £700,000 per week.
Former United manager Jose Mourinho also ruled out a reunion witb Greenwood at his Serie A side AS Roma in Italy.
United’s decision to part ways with Greenwood has been welcomed by ex-England and United defender Gary Neville.
Yet the former player, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, called the club’s handling of the situation “horrible”.
BBC‘s Match Of The Day presenter and ex-England captain Gary Lineker called United’s move “inevitable and right”.
Yet women’s charities urged football clubs to do better when dealing with such allegations.
Lifelong Red Devils fan Rachel Riley also welcomed Greenwood’s departure, having said she would no longer support United if they allowed him back.
The Channel 4‘s Countdown co-host and Strictly Come Dancing did also accused the club of having “handled this appallingly”.
Greenwood last played for United when they beat West Ham United 1-0 in the Premier League on January 22 last year.
The CPS charged him in October last year and he was due to go on trial this November.
But after his alleged victim and 12 further witnesses declined to co-operate, the case was withdrawn on February 2.
Greenwood, born in Bradford in West Yorkshire, scored 35 goals in 129 matches for United.
England manager Gareth Southgate gave him his international debut – and so far solitary cap – in September 2020, as a late sub against Iceland.
When asked about Greenwood yesterday, Southgate said: “It’s clearly a very complex case.
“He’s not playing so it’s not a consideration for us.”