Mason Greenwood has faced a tumultuous international career, but there is still a glimmer of hope for him to revive it by switching his loyalty from England to Jamaica. This possibility has gained attention in light of recent developments in his club career.
Manchester United recently ended its association with the 21-year-old forward. This decision has provided some clarity regarding Greenwood’s club future, following a turbulent period that began with his arrest and subsequent charges, including attempted rape, controlling behavior, and assault, over 18 months ago.
In February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges against Greenwood due to a lack of witness cooperation and new evidence. Although he was not convicted of the alleged crimes in court, he has not been entirely exonerated, as he wrongly claimed in a statement this week.
Following an internal review lasting six months, Manchester United decided to support Greenwood in finding employment elsewhere. However, the clubs interested in him seem to prefer loan deals over permanent transfers, despite Greenwood’s desire for a permanent move.
One club that has been linked to him is AS Roma, where he could potentially reunite with former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Additionally, Atalanta, Inter, Monaco, and various teams in Germany, Turkey, and Spain have explored loan opportunities. There have even been reports of interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Greenwood’s international career has been somewhat limited, despite his impressive club performance, having played in 135 first-team games before his career was derailed. His senior England debut in September 2020 was marred by a breach of Covid-19 quarantine rules, leading to his expulsion from the national team along with Phil Foden.
In the fall of 2021, England manager Gareth Southgate was reportedly willing to give Greenwood a second chance, provided he demonstrated “good intentions.” However, Greenwood’s camp may have been dissatisfied with his lack of playing time and his exclusion from the Euro 2020 temporary squad, citing an unspecified illness.
Reports suggested that Southgate was still interested in bringing Greenwood back into the squad in early 2022, with an eye on the World Cup. Unfortunately, his arrest and charges put an end to any potential comeback.
The Daily Mail speculates that even if Greenwood manages to resurrect his career and gain an international opportunity, he might opt to represent Jamaica due to his family history. The Jamaica Football Federation has shown interest in him since 2021, and he has been spotted wearing the national team’s attire.
FIFA’s rules for international participation underwent changes in 2020, allowing players to switch national teams as long as they haven’t played more than three competitive senior international games before turning 21. Greenwood had only played one competitive senior game for England at the age of 18, which means he remains eligible to switch his allegiance to Jamaica.
