Ten million a year for an outcast Greenwood - a bargain or cynical indulgence?

Mason Greenwood's saga is reaching (un)expected climax, as the former Manchester United attacker is getting close to sealing a deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq.

According to The Sun, after being dumped by the Red Devils, Steven Gerrard's club are set to offer a £10m-a-year deal to the Manchester United forward.

Apparently, other Saudi clubs are also considering a move for the 21-year-old after United announced he's leaving.

The striker was suspended and hasn't kicked a ball for the English giants since January 2022, after he was arrested. However, charges against him of attempted rape, assault and coercive control were dropped last February.

Many in England still believe United were even ready to announce on Tuesday that he was returning to the fold. Alas, since that news leaked, there has been a backlash on social media which has rocked the club hierarchy - who now believe there can be no way back.

As part of a statement released by the club last Wednesday, they made it clear they had responsibilities to the player as well his alleged victim.

It read:

"Throughout this process, the welfare and perspective of the alleged victim has been central to the club's inquiries, and we respect her right to lifelong anonymity.

"We also have responsibilities to Mason as an employee, as a young person who has been with the club since the age of seven, and as a new father with a partner."

Father Mason has been one of the arguably finest products of Manchester United's academy in the last decade or so, and the price the Saudis are ready to pay for him could even be considered a bargain, bearing in mind his football. However, the story of personal qualities is something else and it seems he has found just the place to indulge his sins and even earn a lot of money along the way.