England boss Thomas Tuchel has dismissed any possibility of Mason Greenwood returning to the national team setup. Tuchel stated he hasn’t spoken to the player or his camp, emphasizing Greenwood’s potential switch to represent Jamaica. Greenwood, currently playing for Marseille, had previously considered changing his international allegiance but is yet to commit. This firm stance from Tuchel ends any speculation about Greenwood’s England future, while Jamaica remains a possible option.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has definitively stated that Mason Greenwood is not being considered for the national team, effectively ending speculation about a potential return. Tuchel emphasized that he has not communicated with the player or his representatives and that Greenwood's international future, as far as England is concerned, lies elsewhere.
Image source, Getty ImagesMason Greenwood joined Marseille from Manchester United for £26.6m in July 2024
"I have not spoken to him until now. I have not spoken to him or his camp," Tuchel stated during a press conference. "My understanding was that he tries to play for Jamaica so we didn't give it another thought. He was not in the mix at the moment and he is not in our thoughts for our team." This firm stance leaves little room for interpretation, seemingly closing the door on Greenwood's potential involvement with the Three Lions.
The 23-year-old Greenwood, who once donned the England jersey in a Nations League match against Iceland in September 2020, has had a complicated journey in recent years. After facing serious charges that were eventually dropped in February 2023, his career at Manchester United came to an end. He initially sought a fresh start with a loan move to Getafe in Spain.
In 2024, Greenwood secured a permanent transfer to Marseille, where he has since revitalized his career. His impressive performance on the field, netting 23 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions, had sparked whispers about a possible reconsideration for international duty. However, Tuchel's recent comments have effectively silenced those rumors.
Before Tuchel's decisive statement, there had been indications that Greenwood was exploring the possibility of representing Jamaica on the international stage. He even obtained a Jamaican passport, a significant step toward switching his allegiance. However, he never finalized the necessary change of association form, reportedly due to his own uncertainty about committing to the Caribbean nation.
This hesitation reportedly frustrated Jamaica's coach, Steve McClaren, who had hoped to include Greenwood in crucial World Cup qualifiers against Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago. McClaren revealed that Greenwood was "not going to commit at this time to anybody," signaling the player's indecision regarding his international future.
Despite the setback, McClaren remained open to the possibility of Greenwood eventually joining the Jamaican squad. "He [Greenwood] is taking his time over that, so it's a little bit disappointing. We probably have to be more patient," McClaren acknowledged. "But we will keep the contact, we will keep pursuing him because I know from my conversations with Mason and his family that he loves Jamaica, respects Jamaica."
McClaren further explained that Greenwood's primary focus was on his club career at Marseille. "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've worked hard to get him here for these camps. So, who knows in the future," he concluded. With England seemingly out of the picture, Greenwood's international future remains a topic of speculation, with Jamaica still potentially in the running.