AS Mason Greenwood turned it on for Marseille in their 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Champions League on Tuesday night, he reminded an English audience of just what a special talent he is on a football field.
There has never been any doubting his football ability – he is now probably the second best English striker behind Harry Kane.
But the off-field baggage that comes with him makes him a non-starter for the England World Cup squad.
I’ve followed Greenwood’s career since he turned 16 when the Manchester United academy could hardly contain their excitement about him.
Former United midfielder Clayton Blackmore worked with United’s juniors between 2010-17.
In March 2018, he observed that Greenwood was “the first person I’ve seen that takes penalties and the free-kicks with his wrong foot”.
Less than two years later, the left-footed Greenwood slotted in a right-footed penalty against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup fourth round.
On pure talent, Greenwood is worthy of mention in the same breath as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Ravel Morrison, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford, the most gifted United academy graduates in the last 35 years.
United insiders noted recently that Greenwood scored as many goals in Ligue 1 last season as Ballon d’Or recipient Ousmane Dembele.
But those at United’s Carrington training base are understandably reluctant to express any pride in a player who was sold to Marseille for £26.6million last year.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 after allegations emerged through images and videos online.
He was later charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. United suspended Greenwood from training and playing for the club.
In February 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against Greenwood after key witnesses withdrew their involvement and “new material came to light”. Greenwood said he was “relieved”.
I first crossed paths with Greenwood in Los Angeles in July 2018. It was Jose Mourinho’s final pre-season tour and his mood could hardly be any worse as Ed Woodward bungled another transfer window.
Greenwood, 16 at the time, was added to the touring party along with James Garner as several United internationals recovered from their World Cup excursions.
Mourinho reminded us that United’s under-21s had been relegated the previous season. So rather than flood his squad with no-hopers, he gave hope to Greenwood and Garner.
Greenwood and Garner, who was integral to Everton’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Monday night, were on the bench in Mourinho’s penultimate match in charge at Valencia.
The night before Mourinho was sacked, Greenwood plundered a hat-trick against Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup.
Chelsea had won six of the last seven Youth Cups until they encountered Greenwood. Two of his goals were with his ‘weaker’ right foot.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, about to be installed as United’s caretaker manager, was watching from his home in Norway. Two-and-a-half months later, Solskjaer handed Greenwood his debut against Paris Saint-Germain.
Greenwood England return not ruled out by Tuchel
By Charlie Wyett
PUBLICLY, England manager Thomas Tuchel is not ruling out the chances of Mason Greenwood making a return to the senior squad.
But realistically, there is currently no chance of Greenwood playing for the Three Lions again and adding to his solitary cap.
Whatever he does for Marseille over the next few months, he will not be making a late dash for next summer’s World Cup squad, even though he is the country’s second best forward behind Harry Kane.
Greenwood’s only England appearance came away to Iceland in September 2020 and along with Phil Foden, was sent home by manager Gareth Southgate after breaching quarantine rules in Reykjavik by inviting two women to the team hotel.
Separately, he was charged was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour in October 2022 and even though the charges were dropped, he has remained frozen out of international football despite returning to action with Getafe and now Marseille.
Greenwood had decided to play for Jamaica but he delivered a u-turn in September which looked set to open the door for an England return.
England manager Tuchel said: “I have not spoken to him until now. I have not spoken to him or his camp.
“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. I don’t rule anything out but he is no priority at the moment.”
Maybe, after the World Cup and looking forward to Euro 2028, which will see England as co-hosts, Greenwood has a chance of a return. But certainly not now.
John Murtough, who would be appointed United’s inaugural football director, was also in attendance at Leigh Sports Village and particularly enthusiastic. Ultimately, Greenwood would be Murtough’s undoing.
Murtough, chief executive Richard Arnold and Erik ten Hag intended to reintegrate Greenwood into the United squad in August 2023.
When word got out, there was a volcanic fan backlash comparable with the Super League.
Within eight months, Arnold and Murtough were both gone. Sir Jim Ratcliffe did not entertain a comeback for Greenwood after he became co-owner at United.
Greenwood was largely off-limits to the media at United. The only main interaction with him was over a pre-match Zoom call during the Covid-19 pandemic in February 2021.
Greenwood was 19 and had just signed a new long-term contract. He spoke with surprising maturity.
United entrusted him to speak to a handful of broadcast journalists (virtually) before the Europa League final three months later.
Some of us were milling around in the lobby of the Fullerton Bay Hotel in Singapore during the 2019 pre-season tour, waiting to interview Luke Shaw.
Fan favourite Greenwood thriving in Marseille
By Gary Stonehouse in Marseille
WITH each attack mounted against the Toon, the raucous Marseille crowd demanded the ball go out right to the speedster who is Mason Greenwood.
And they let their players know about it in no uncertain terms whenever they failed to do just that.
Facing English opposition for the first time, Greenwood tried to take the game by the scruff off the neck after his team fell behind early doors.
He was electric in the opening period, getting at Tino Livramento and Dan Burn whenever he could.
And they never knew which way he was going, with the confident attacker equally comfortable cutting in with his left or using his right.
Greenwood laid on three big chances for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that all went begging.
One from a cut inside and the latter getting out wide and crossing.
But there were no signs of aggressiveness, petulance or frustration even when all his ammunition was being wasted early doors.
He still demanded the ball and made himself available at every opportunity.
Then, after the Gabon striker made amends with a quickfire double, we saw a flash of his shooting abilities after he switched flanks to the left.
On it like a flash, he pounced to pull the trigger with Toon on the ropes, but Nick Pope’s arm stopped his vicious strike from making it three.
Greenwood received a raucous reception when being replaced late on after tiring towards the closing stages.
And he wore the smile of a jubilant winner as he danced in front of the Ultras while arm-in-arm with his team-mates after the final whistle.
Greenwood was also present as one of the players at a sponsor’s event.
While senior team-mates conducted interviews, Greenwood sidled over to the United press officer and asked, “Can I go over there and rest?” He sounded like a child who had had too much sun on holiday.
Greenwood was in-demand. Less than 24 hours earlier, he lashed in an unstoppable winner against Inter Milan in front of 52,897 fans in the Singapore National Stadium.
At the commercial event, the compere attempted to ask Greenwood an innocuous question, unaware he was forbidden from answering. There was an awkward pause and Diogo Dalot stepped in on Greenwood’s behalf.
United fans serenaded Greenwood to David Bowie’s Starman: “Mason Greenwood’s dynamite, he scores with his left foot and he scores with his right.”
His belief was so unwavering that Greenwood often irked Cristiano Ronaldo through his selfishness during their five months as teammates in 2021-22.
Greenwood has been capped once by England but that was over five years ago and his debut against Iceland was overshadowed by him and Phil Foden breaching Covid quarantine rules.
Greenwood has obtained a Jamaican passport and Steve McClaren attempted to add him to the Jamaica squad before they failed to qualify for the World Cup last week. McClaren resigned after the goalless draw with Curacao.
Thomas Tuchel has started to cultivate a settled and harmonious environment in the England camp in recent months. He has also not spoken to Greenwood.
And Tuchel has an embarrassment of riches in attack. Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Morgan Gibbs-White, Danny Welbeck and Ollie Watkins were not in his last squad.
So considering Greenwood, fabulous footballer though he is, is just not worth it.
