Mason Greenwood’s international career remains uncertain, but he still has the option to switch his allegiance from England to Jamaica, potentially reigniting his career on the global stage. Although Greenwood has been out of the spotlight for some time, the possibility of representing Jamaica has been floated, and it remains a real prospect for the future.
Earlier this week, Manchester United officially parted ways with Greenwood, bringing some clarity to his club future. This comes more than 18 months after his arrest in January 2022, which led to charges of attempted rape, controlling behavior, and assault. In February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that the case would not proceed due to key witnesses withdrawing and new evidence coming to light. Although Greenwood was not convicted of the charges, he also did not receive a full acquittal, as he had incorrectly suggested in a statement following the legal developments.
After an internal investigation lasting six months, Manchester United ultimately decided to assist Greenwood in continuing his football career elsewhere. While clubs have shown interest, most appear to prefer a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer, despite the latter being Manchester United’s preference.
Reports from 90min have indicated that AS Roma could offer Greenwood an opportunity to restart his career, which would reunite him with former United manager Jose Mourinho. Additionally, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Monaco, and clubs in Germany, Spain, and Turkey have all reportedly engaged in talks regarding a possible loan move. Even the Saudi Pro League is said to be monitoring his situation closely.
Greenwood, who has appeared in 135 first-team matches for Manchester United, has had limited experience with England’s senior national team. He made his debut for England in September 2020 during a UEFA Nations League match against Iceland, but his international career was quickly marred by controversy. Just two days after his debut, Greenwood and fellow England player Phil Foden were sent home for breaking Covid-19 quarantine protocols, tarnishing their reputations in the process.
Despite the incident, reports suggest that England manager Gareth Southgate was willing to give Greenwood another chance. In the fall of 2021, Southgate reportedly held a meeting with Greenwood, his family, and Manchester United officials to discuss a potential pathway back into the national team.
Known for giving young players opportunities if they show the right attitude, Southgate allegedly outlined a plan for Greenwood’s reintegration, albeit as a rotational player rather than an automatic starter. However, Greenwood’s camp was reportedly dissatisfied with the attention surrounding his return without guarantees of playing time, leading to further complications. Greenwood had been included in a provisional squad for Euro 2020 but withdrew due to an undisclosed illness.
By early 2022, there were suggestions that Southgate was still considering Greenwood for a return to the national setup, with the 2022 World Cup on the horizon. However, Greenwood’s arrest and the subsequent legal issues halted all such efforts.
Currently, Greenwood has not played a professional match since January 22, 2022, and has not trained with any club since his suspension by Manchester United. While his club future remains uncertain, his international future is equally unclear.
According to The Daily Mail, Greenwood may never play for England again, even if he gets his career back on track. Due to his family ties, he could still choose to represent Jamaica on the international stage. The Jamaica Football Federation has shown interest in Greenwood since 2021, and he was recently seen wearing a Jamaica team outfit, fueling speculation about his potential switch.
FIFA rules, updated in 2020, allow players to change national teams as long as they have not played more than three competitive senior international matches before turning 21. Greenwood, who was only 18 when he made his sole appearance for England, remains eligible to switch his allegiance to Jamaica under these guidelines.