Mason Greenwood has applied to switch allegiances from England to Steve McClaren’s Jamaica, FA chief confirms
- Mason Greenwood’s one and only cap for England came back in 2020 in Iceland
- Jamaica are currently managed by ex-Manchester United coach Steve McClaren
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Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham confirmed that Mason Greenwood has formally applied to switch allegiance to Steve McClaren’s Jamaica.
The 23-year-old has courted attention after impressing for Marseille this season, scoring 15 goals in Ligue 1 after returning to action last season with Spanish side Getafe.
After emerging as one of Manchester United’s brightest young talents, but left the club officially last summer after he was arrested in January 2022 before being charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Charges against Greenwood were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service following the ‘withdrawal of key witnesses and new material coming to light’.
Ex-Manchester United striker Greenwood made his only England appearance in September 2020 against Iceland in which he and Phil Foden broke Covid regulations.
Greenwood has since been banished from the squad and has been able to change allegiances because he was under 21 at the time he played for England, in a 1-0 away win where he featured for 12 minutes.
Mason Greenwood has applied to switch his international allegiance to Jamaica, Mark Bullingham has confirmed
Jamaica are currently managed by former Manchester United coach Steve McClaren
The 23-year-old earned his only England cap as a substitute against Iceland in August 2020
When asked if Greenwood switched because it was indicated to the striker that he wasn’t going to be picked, Bullingham replied: ‘No, we actually didn’t have that communication.
‘I don’t think there was ever a request. It just wasn’t one we got to, so it’s a personal decision by him.’
A report back in February claimed that, despite then feeling that his career in England is over, the 23-year-old is enjoying his time in the south of France where he is said to face less scrutiny from supporters.
A source told The Sun: ‘He got one cap for England and it’s unlikely he will ever add to that.
‘The scrutiny he faces in England would be a million times more than he’s had in France. For instance, he was once walking into a petrol station and someone called him a rapist and videoed it.
‘That doesn’t happen in Marseille where he’s most likely to be stopped and told what a great player he is.
‘He’s not being asked questions by the press and can focus on his football.’
The sourced added: ‘In France, he’s got good influences around him.
Bullingham confirmed the news of Greenwood’s intentions to switch allegiance on Thursday
Thomas Tuchel was at Nottingham Forest’s FA Cup victory against Ipswich Town on Monday
‘Manchester is a small city and you might wonder about whether the people who surrounded him there had his best interests at heart.
‘In Marseille he will be going out with team-mates and not really hanging about with anyone else.
‘They are older, more mature, more sophisticated and appear more protective of him. If they go out for a team meal, Mason isn’t likely to end up partying.’
FA CEO Bullingham also confirmed that new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel has already drawn up a 55-man list of players he is interested in for the England side.
Many of the contenders have been phoned up by the new boss for the World Cup qualifying matches against Albania and Latvia at Wembley on March 21 and 24 respectively.
