Mason Greenwood’s ugly misogyny has no place at Manchester United – whatever his fanclub say

At first Greenwood was said to be staying at the club after rape and assault charges against him were dropped. But the stain of his return haunted them – they had a moral duty to drop him, writes Jim White

Greenwood was suspended last January when a video and voice recording was published on social media apparently showing him brutally bullying a woman for sexual gratification (AP)

In old Fleet Street terms a U-turn of this scale used to be called a Reverse Ferret. And Manchester United’s Reverse Ferret over the Mason Greenwood affair was so rapid the skid marks will be visible on the forecourt at Old Trafford for months.

Last week, Adam Crafton of the Athletic website reported that Richard Arnold, United’s chief executive and the man who had been charged with an investigation into the player’s conduct, was briefing staff that Greenwood would be brought back into the first team fold.

He had been suspended last January when a video and voice recording was published on social media apparently showing him brutally bullying a woman for sexual gratification. An investigation was conducted by Greater Manchester Police. But earlier this year, all charges were dropped.