04 March 2023 , 08:10
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England and Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood has turned down the chance to switch international allegiances despite manager Gareth Southgate not being prepared to recall him for the national team, it has been claimed.
Greenwood, 21, remains suspended by his club while United complete an internal probe following his 2022 arrest on suspicion of rape and assault. He was subsequently further arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and making threats to kill. All charges against the player were dropped in February 2023, with a subsequent statement released on his behalf saying he was "relieved that this matter is now over".
The one-cap international is eligible to represent Jamaica as well as England, and FIFA rules allow players to make switches if they have won three or fewer senior caps before the age of 21. However, according to The Sun, Greenwood is still clinging to hope of returning to the England fold at some point.
Greenwood played for England at a number of age-group levels before earning his first senior call-up under Southgate in 2020. He made his debut in a UEFA Nations League game against Iceland, but has not represented his country since.
The forward, along with international team-mate Phil Foden, was sent home from that camp following a breach of Covid guidelines. However, while Foden has since returned to the international fold and played a part at both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, Greenwood did not add to his sole cap, with The Sun claiming he will never do so under Southgate.
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The Manchester United man missed the Euros through injury, and Jamaica made efforts to convince him to declare for them in 2021 according to reports at the time from The Telegraph. More recently, Jamaica Football Federation general secretary Dennis Chung told reporters the Caribbean nation wouldn't rule out a call-up for a player he described as having "a very bright future ahead of him".
Mason Greenwood's one and only England cap came against Iceland in 2020 (AFP via Getty Images)Back in 2021 England boss Southgate insisted the Covid breaches were not standing in the way of another call-up for the Manchester United man, claiming the Three Lions had "tried to pick" the youngster. Greenwood scored 35 goals in 129 appearances at club level before his 2022 suspension, while United have not put a timeframe on their internal investigation.
"Manchester United notes the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service that all charges against Mason Greenwood have been dropped," the Premier League club said in a February statement. "The club will now conduct its own process before determining next steps. We will not make any further comment until that process is complete."
The Crown Prosecution Service had earlier issued a statement regarding the case. "The withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction," it began.
The CPS added: "In these circumstances, we are under a duty to stop the case. We have explained our decision to all parties. We would always encourage any potential victims to come forward and report to police and we will prosecute wherever our legal test is met.”