Mason Greenwood, a footballer, was detained on suspicion of raping and sexually assaulting his 18-year-old girlfriend. Police have been given extra time to question him.
The 20-year-old was arrested yesterday after disturbing photos and recordings of him allegedly assaulting the victim went viral on social media.
The woman seemed to be wounded and beaten in the horrific photographs. The footballer was heard forcing his girl to have sex with him on the voice tape.
This afternoon, police announced Greenwood would continue to remain in custody for further questioning. Earlier today, detectives were seen visiting several close neighbours of the Manchester United forward, who lives in a rented gated mansion in a upmarket Cheshire village.
Neighbour Maureen Foley, 89, told MailOnline: ‘They asked me whether I had heard or seen anything. But I hadn’t so couldn’t tell them much.
I have seen him but that’s it.’ Another neighbour said: ‘The police asked whether we have heard anything. But he’s only been here a few weeks.
An Everton player used to live there and another player owns it but Mason just rents it.’ Club insiders have held concerns about Greenwood’s ego for some time and he has attracted his fair share of negative publicity, although of course none of the issues can compare to the serious allegations made against him on Sunday.
Neighbors have complained about his lockdown parties, while he was sent home by England manager Gareth Southgate after he and Phil Foden invited two women back to the team hotel following their senior debut against Iceland in 2020.
His sponsorship partner Nike has said it is ‘deeply concerned’ by the allegations made against Greenwood, and said it was ‘continuing to monitor the situation’.
It came as United’s most high-profile players, including David de Gea, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Paul Pogba have appeared to unfollow Greenwood on Instagram, despite following other squad members.
Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Fred, and Jesse Lingard are also among those not following the rising star, while club captain Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes are in a group of 18 squad members who are still following him.