By Tim Parsons-
The Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood has been released on bail following a private court hearing over allegations of attempted rape and other offences.
The 21-year-old is expected to be released from prison on Wednesday having spent four nights in custody. Greenwood was charged on Saturday with attempted rape, assault and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour.
The footballer was suspended by United following his arrest in January.
In a private hearing at Minshull Street crown court in Manchester on Wednesday, the judge, John Potter, granted Greenwood bail with a number of conditions. He is not allowed to contact witnesses, including the complainant, and must reside in Bowdon, near Altrincham in Greater Manchester.
Greenwood’s release comes two days after he appeared at Manchester magistrates court, where a judge had refused his request to be released on bail. By that point he had spent two nights in the cells after being charged by the Crown Prosecution Service on Saturday.
He faces one count of attempted rape, said to have taken place on 22 October 2021, and of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in December 2021. He is also charged with “repeatedly engaging” in coercive and controlling behaviour, which allegedly included monitoring the complainant’s social media accounts and “making threats and derogatory comments towards her, amounting to a serious effect upon her”.
Greenwood, once considered one of the most talented English forwards of his generation, has not played or trained with Manchester United since his arrest 10 months ago. Nike ended its sponsorship deal with him and Electronic Arts removed him from active squads in its Fifa 22 game.
The club said: “Manchester United notes that criminal charges have been brought against Mason Greenwood by the Crown Prosecution Service. He remains suspended by the club, pending the outcome of the judicial process.”
Greenwood made his England debut in a Uefa Nations League game against Iceland in September 2020, aged 18.