Mason Greenwood labelled Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid career as ‘dead’ and was unafraid to call academy team-mates ‘s*** to their face’, new reports have revealed.
The Manchester United forward was reportedly ordered by club officials to tone down his language after his harsh criticism of superstar Ronaldo.
Greenwood, 21, is currently not playing or training for United as the club conducts an internal investigation after the Crown Prosecution Service announced in February the case against him would be discontinued.
He was in January 2022 charged with attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour. But the CPS confirmed last month the withdrawal of crucial witnesses and new material coming to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
And the Athletic report that in his younger days, Greenwood caused issues by ‘brutally’ calling out team-mates in the United youth system when they failed to impress him.
Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood (centre) labelled Cristiano Ronaldo ‘dead’ and ‘called team-mates s*** to their face’ if he did not rate their ability, according to new revelations
The 21-year-old forward is not playing or training for United as the club conducts an internal investigation after the CBS announced last month charges including attempted rape against him would be dropped because there was no longer any realistic chance of a conviction
And it was reported Greenwood insisted superstar Ronaldo, then at Real Madrid (above), was ‘dead’ – meaning ‘finished’ – in an apparent reference to his perceived fall from the top level
The Portuguese would later become a team-mate of Greenwood’s at Old Trafford (pictured)
A source said: ‘He knew he was a good player and was cutting, he wasn’t shy about telling someone they were s***. When you hear that you’d think, ‘Can’t be talking like that’.
He also called future United team-mate Ronaldo, then at Real Madrid, ‘dead’ – slang meaning ‘finished’ – in reference to his perceived career decline, with staff forced to intervene and ‘correct him’ as part of a strategy to guide him to be less immature.
Greenwood also reportedly threatened to move to the Red Devils’ bitter rivals Man City when there was tension in training.
After the charges were dropped against him, the Bradford-born player said: ‘I am relieved this matter is now over. I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support.’
United then responded with a statement saying: ‘Manchester United notes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped.
‘The club will now conduct its own process before determining next steps. We will not make any further comment until that process is complete.’
Greenwood, capped once by England in 2020, is still contracted at Old Trafford until summer 2025, but it is unclear when or if he will ever play for United, or professional football at all, again.
But he would reportedly ‘run through a brick wall’ to be back playing for the Red Devils again, according to another source.
