Mason Greenwood 'wants to join' Jamaica after coming through 'traumatic time' at Man Utd as Steve McClaren reveals date Marseille star could switch allegiance from England

Greenwood's international career has been in limbo since he was arrested on suspicion of rape in January 2022, having earned his only England cap four months prior. Greenwood was later charged with attempted rape and assault, but all charges against him were dropped in February 2023. Manchester United decided against reintegrating him into the first-team squad, though, and loaned him to Getafe before finalising a permanent move to Marseille last summer.

The 23-year-old is eligible to play for Jamaica owing to his father, who was born in the Caribbean country. Speculation that he will switch allegiance has been rife throughout this year and has picked up since his charges were dropped, with head coach Steve McClaren confirming that he is keen to play for the Reggae Boyz.

“I’ve heard a lot of publicity about and always around Mason Greenwood,” McClaren told the media on Saturday. “I am constantly in touch with Mason, the message is always the same, ‘when the time is right'.

“You’ve got to think he’s had a traumatic time the last two years in his contract, and he’s been on loan. He’s been here, he’s been there – the publicity, and I think he just wants to settle in at Marseille and enjoy his football, which he’s doing, and he wants to join the Reggae Boyz. I know that, every time I speak to him, I’ve no reason to doubt that, and the process goes on.”

McClaren is also hopeful that Greenwood will be part of his squad by March next year.

“I didn’t expect it to be, once you missed the first camp, any of these camps, but I’m hoping by March time we will have made progress on everything," he added. "As I said, our whole project and process is about World Cup qualification, and that’s still, I know, on the horizon, but it’s still something that we’re thinking about now and planning for in the long term. So Mason, we keep an eye on and keep you posted on that.”

Greenwood has been in fine form for Marseille this season, scoring eight goals in 11 appearances for the Ligue 1 club. He'll no doubt be following Jamaica's progress in their upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarter-final tie against the USMNT.