Former Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren has voiced his disappointment after Mason Greenwood declined to join the Jamaica squad for this month's international break. Greenwood and McClaren had a working relationship at Old Trafford when the latter was assisting Erik ten Hag.
However, their collaboration was primarily off-pitch as Greenwood was suspended by the Reds in January 2022 following allegations of attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour. All charges were denied by Greenwood and subsequently dropped, before he moved to Getafe on loan on deadline day in the summer of 2023. McClaren returned to United's coaching staff in July 2022.
After his loan spell in Spain ended, Greenwood returned to Manchester, where the coaching team told him he would be sold. The winger then signed for Marseille in 2024 and performed exceptionally well, sparking brief speculation that the 23-year-old might revive his England career.
However, neither Gareth Southgate nor Thomas Tuchel included him in their plans, leading Greenwood to consider his international options. McClaren, aware that Greenwood could switch allegiances to Jamaica, has been trying to lure him to the Caribbean.
This idea was first proposed last season but progress has been slow. Now, ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago, McClaren has provided more insight into the situation.
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"He has acquired a passport and we expected him to be coming to this camp but after a conversation with his family, he's not going to commit at this time to anybody," the former England head coach explained. "So, he's taking his time over that.
"It's a little bit disappointing. We probably have to be more patient. We will keep the contact. We'll keep pursuing him because I know from my conversations with Mason, he loves Jamaica, respects Jamaica.
"He wants to concentrate on club football and not commit to an international team. At the present moment, we have to respect that however much we have worked hard to get him here for this camp. So, who knows in the future."
Greenwood has enjoyed a promising start to the new campaign with Marseille, netting once and providing two assists in his opening three appearances.
Should he decide to represent Jamaica, Greenwood could feature for the nation at next summer's World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada.