Mason Greenwood is reportedly set to switch his international allegiance from England to Jamaica and reunite with former Manchester United coach Steve McClaren.
Greenwood has only made one appearance for the Three Lions, against Iceland in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. He and Phil Foden were sent home by Gareth Southgate for breaking Covid quarantine guidelines just two days later, and Greenwood has not played for England since.
He may never play for them again, as The Sun claim that Jamaica’s football federation has approached the FA with a formal request for Greenwood to switch allegiances.
The process is already up and running as Bradford-born Greenwood prepares to represent the Reggae Boyz, who he is eligible to play for through his father. FIFA rules permit players to switch providing they have made no more than three competitive appearances before turning 21.
For Greenwood, the move would mean a reunion with McClaren, who spent two years at Old Trafford as part of Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff. The 63-year-old was appointed Jamaica boss at the end of last month after they failed to make it through the group stage of the Copa America.
Jamaica reportedly made an unsuccessful approach for Greenwood last year. But a fresh push was made following McClaren’s arrival, and the change is set to be made pending FIFA approval.
Familiar Premier League faces Ethan Pinnock, Demarai Gray, Michail Antonio and Bobby De Cordova-Reid all play their international football for Jamaica.
Greenwood was suspended by United in January 2022 due to allegations of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The 22-year-old denied the charges, which were eventually dropped.
Last summer, then-England boss Southgate left Greenwood in suspense as to whether he could play for him again. “It’s clearly a very complex case,” he said. “He is not playing (at club level) so it’s not a consideration for us.”
United sent Greenwood to Getafe on loan last season, where he showed flashes of why he was so highly rated as a youngster and scored 10 goals in 36 matches across all competitions.
Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi snapped him up on a permanent basis in July, shelling out £26.7million and putting him straight into his starting XI for the club’s Ligue 1 opener against Brest last weekend. Greenwood repaid that faith by opening his account inside three minutes and adding a second from the penalty spot before half-time.
