Mason Greenwood retained by Manchester United ahead of 2023/24 season

Mason Greenwood has been retained by Manchester United ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Greenwood remains suspended by United and has not trained with the first team or been available to play since he was arrested in January 2022.

Charges of attempted rape, assault and coercive control against the 21-year-old were dropped in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew their involvement in the case and new material came to light during a police investigation.

But he is yet to return to United, with the club conducting an internal investigation before making a final decision over his future.

It has led to speculation over whether Greenwood will be allowed back or if the club is planning to release, loan or sell him this summer.

United provided an update on Friday by confirming that Greenwood had been retained by the club ahead of the new season.

United released a list of players retained for the 2023-24 campaign on the club's website, which confirmed that several players including Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe will leave this summer at the end of their contracts.

The club also confirmed that contract talks remain ongoing with goalkeeper David de Gea, whose current deal expires at the end of the month.

Greenwood was named on the retained list as part of Section A - of players aged under 24 as of June 2023.

The forward is under contract at Old Trafford until 2025 and remains on full pay while the club conducts its internal investigation.

In a recent interview with The Times, United manager Erik ten Hag refused to rule out Greenwood returning to the first-team squad but said the decision was not his to make.

Following up to previous answer he had given on easing the goal-scoring burden on Marcus Rashford, Ten Hag said that Greenwood had "shown in the past that he is capable of doing that (scoring as a forward for United)".

Greenwood released a short statement after the charges against him were dropped, which made no mention of his football career and plans for the future.

"I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support," read the statement.

"There will be no further comment at this time."

Greenwood has not played for United in 18 months, with his last appearance for the club coming against West Ham on January 22, 2022.