A leading goalscorer in Ligue 1 is exploring the possibility of representing a different nation in international football.
Mason Greenwood has scored 15 league goals for Olympique Marseille this season, placing him second only to Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé (18) in the scoring charts.
The striker, born in England and developed at Manchester United’s academy, where he also played for the first team, has requested to be eligible to play for the Jamaican national team. Jamaica is the country where his parents grew up.
Born in Bradford, Greenwood has only one senior cap for England, earned in September 2020. He has not played for the English national team since facing serious allegations.
In 2022, Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, coercive control, and assault. However, in 2023, these charges were dropped because key witnesses withdrew their cooperation, and new evidence emerged. Greenwood has denied all allegations.
Greenwood’s strong performances for Marseille this season are a significant factor in their second-place league position and their strong chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
The Jamaican national team, known as the “Reggae Boyz,” is currently managed by Steve McClaren. McClaren is familiar with Greenwood from his time as an assistant coach at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag from May 2022 to July of last year.
McClaren previously managed England after the 2006 FIFA World Cup but was dismissed after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
In December, Greenwood was recognized as Ligue 1’s Player of the Month while at Marseille. He joined Marseille last summer on a five-year contract.