Mason Greenwood has scored 15 Ligue 1 goals for Marseille this season (Image: Getty)
is one step closer to reuniting with former coach Steve McClaren. Ex-, and boss McClaren is now in charge of the Jamaican national team, and he admits that work is still going on behind the scenes to facilitate Greenwood’s change of international allegiance.
The 23-year-old earned his one and only England cap in 2020, but he has not played for the Three Lions since being charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Greenwood denied the charges and they were dropped in February 2023, but he has not played for an English team since being suspended by United when the saga began.
Greenwood rebuilt his professional career with a successful loan spell at Getafe last season, and he has hit the ground running since signing for Marseille last summer. With 15 goals, he is the second-top-scorer in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele.
The FA confirmed earlier this month that Greenwood had formally requested to switch from England to Jamaica. McClaren says the change is moving closer to completion and he remains in contact with the player’s camp.
“We are in contact all the time, with him and his family,” said the 63-year-old. “I am very confident he only wants to play for Jamaica. It is up to him when he moves forward with that. The ball is in his court.”
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Jamaica boss Steve McClaren says the ball is in Mason Greenwood’s court (Image: Getty)
McClaren, who was once an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, returned to United as a member of ‘s backroom staff in 2022. By that time Greenwood was out of the team, but the young forward remained on the books until his move to Marseille last July.
Jamaica appointed McClaren to lead their World Cup qualification push that very same month. And Greenwood is one of the players he wants at his disposal when qualifiers kick off in June.
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The veteran head coach will hope Greenwood mends his relationship with club boss Roberto De Zerbi in the meantime. The former United man was dropped from the starting line-up last weekend amid calls for greater consistency.
“No one can have more respect for him than I do,” said De Zerbi. “But that doesn’t change anything: I expect more from him. He has to do more, because what he is currently showing is not enough. If he wants to achieve his ambition of becoming a champion, he has to be more consistent, sacrifice more and be more determined.”