(LONDON) British police announced a rape arrest on Sunday after a young woman accused young Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, who has been suspended by the club until further notice.
Posted at 2:25 p.m.
In a statement, police in the northern English town said that after being told a young woman had posted accusations of “physical abuse” on social media, they launched an investigation, in the where a young man in his twenties was arrested on charges of rape and assault.
He was taken into custody for questioning, added the police, without naming the player, specifying that “the investigations are continuing”.
Earlier in the day, a video, photos and an audio recording had been published on the young woman’s Instagram account before being deleted.
These images showed her face bleeding and bruises on her body, with the caption “to anyone who wants to know what Mason Greenwood is really doing to me”.
“We are aware of the images and allegations circulating on social media,” Manchester United wrote in a first statement on Sunday. “We will make no further comment until the facts have been established. Manchester United does not tolerate any form of violence. »
“New Wayne Rooney”
Then, in a second press release, the 20-year-old striker’s club clarified: “Mason Greenwood will not return to training and will not play matches until further notice”.
Hope of British soccer, the English international (one selection) has played 18 games and scored 5 goals this season in the English league.
Greenwood has sometimes been considered the “new Wayne Rooney” after the 2019/2020 season. He then became the third Manchester United player to score 17 or more goals in a season under 20, after Rooney and George Best.
His qualities – explosiveness, ability to shoot with both feet with force and precision – convinced coach Gareth Southgate to call him up to “A” for Nations League matches in September.
He played the last 12 minutes of the first game in Iceland, before being sent home with Phil Foden for inviting two young women to the team hotel in Reykjavik, in violation of anti-COVID-19 protocol .
Greenwood was also on the provisional list of 33 players shortlisted to play Euro-2020 last summer with England, he had to withdraw due to injury.
Last fall, he was in the running among 10 candidates for the Kopa trophy, which rewards the best player under 21.