Jamaica have opened the door to Mason Greenwood resurrecting his international career – three years after the forward was capped by England.
Greenwood appeared for the Three Lions senior side in September 2020’s clash at Iceland in the Nations League. Greenwood and Phil Foden were subsequently withdrawn from Gareth Southgate ’s squad after breaking Covid quarantine guidelines in Iceland by leaving the part of the hotel that the squad was occupying.
United announced in August that Greenwood would be leaving the club following an internal investigation. While it had been suggested that other English clubs were monitoring the forward’s situation, he completed a late transfer deadline day switch to Spanish side Getafe.
The forward’s future at international level is unclear with any future return to the England fold appearing to be unlikely. However, a solution may be found.
Greenwood can switch allegiance to Jamaica according to FIFA rules since he is of Jamaican descent. For that, the Jamaican football association must make a formal appeal to FIFA, world football’s governing body, in order to request the forward be allowed to represent them.
“We would like to have the best talent on our team,” boss Heimir Hallgrimsson explained when asked on the Greenwood situation. “If he gets his former fitness and former levels, then for sure he would have that level to help Jamaica.”
There are currently 13 England-based players in the senior Jamaica squad including forwards Leon Bailey and Michail Antonio of Aston Villa and West Ham respectively. Brentford central defender Ethan Pinnock and Fulham midfielder Bobby Decordova-Reid are also in their ranks.
Getafe’s sporting director Ruben Reyes claimed last month that the signing of Greenwood was “just the same” as any other. He told reporters: “We did what we do – sign players that are available to sign. There is no need for us to handle anything (off the pitch).
“We have signed a footballer who is just the same as (fellow signings) Diego Rico and Oscar Rodriguez, and that’s it. We have to do our job, and that’s what we focus on.”
Reyes added: “It is a year’s loan. It’s very difficult to get an option to buy on a player (like him). He will be here all season. There are internal discussions, but those are small details that we try not to share. They appreciated the effort, how convinced we were.
“We’re very excited with him. He was a player that we knew was out there. We worked on it, gathered information and bit by bit we saw that there could be a possibility. We spoke to his family, to his dad, to his people for a long time.
“We were able to convince him to come here, to trust in us. We’re satisfied. He plays very free, as if he was on a school playground. He has a very high level. We dreamed that we could bring him here, and sometimes that gets fulfilled.”
Greenwood scored 35 goals in 129 appearances for United having made his senior debut in the Champions League in March 2019. The forward remains under contract with the Red Devils until 2025, with a club option of a further 12 months.