DALLAS, Texas, CMC—Reggae Boyz head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said he is ready to welcome England outcast Mason Greenwood into the Caribbean powerhouses’ set-up, stressing that everyone “deserves a second chance.”
The 22-year-old forward, who qualifies to represent Jamaica through his father, has played once for England, featuring as a substitute against Iceland in a Nations League contest four years ago.
His recent legal troubles mean he is unlikely to represent the Three Lions again.
Greenwood was arrested and charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behavior, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2022 but had the charges subsequently dropped after “the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light.”
Manchester United has since shipped him on loan to La Liga’s side, Getafe, where he has netted seven times during the season.
“I don’t like to talk about ‘what if,’’ but this, of course, has come to our mind,” Hallgrimsson was quoted by The Athletic earlier this week.
“I would love to have him on my team. Like all coaches, I want to have the best players on our team, but it’s always up to the player himself if he wants to do it.”
United is expected to decide on Greenwood’s future this summer, with speculation rife that the English powerhouses will cut all ties with the player and put him up for sale.
Last year, England manager Gareth Southgate sidestepped questions on Greenwood’s international future, citing the “very complex case.”
Hallgrimsson said it would be up to the Jamaica Football Federation to decide whether to court Greenwood but believed there should be redemption for the pacy striker.
“That will then be up to the Federation. It’s not the coach who will answer for something like that. I’m not an expert in this,” he said.
“I just look at the person. What he has gone through in the year-and-a-half since it happened is worse than I can imagine, being in the press and on social media.
“I can only imagine what he has been going through. The case went through stages and was dropped, so it’s not up to me or anyone else to judge him on that.
“It was no less a person than Jesus Christ who said, ‘ Those without sin should throw the first stone. Whatever happened, everybody at least deserves a second chance. And he knows that all eyes are on him.”‘
Jamaica is preparing to face confederation giants the United States in the semi-final of the CONCACAF Nations League on March 21.
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