Gareth Southgate’s Evaluation: Mason Greenwood’s Euro 2024 Squad Prospects
Mason Greenwood’s prospects of making it into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 seem unlikely, but the door hasn’t been completely shut for the young striker. Currently on loan at Getafe from Manchester United, Greenwood has been making strides to get his career back on track after a turbulent period.
Greenwood’s loan move to Getafe has proven to be successful, with the 22-year-old scoring eight goals and providing five assists in 26 appearances for the Spanish club. This has been a crucial step for him after his arrest in January 2022 for attempted rape, controlling behavior, and assault. However, all charges against him were dropped in February last year.
Despite his progress, Southgate has made it clear that Greenwood will not be considered for the upcoming Euro 2024. The England boss believes that his presence in the squad at this moment would be a ‘distraction’ and wants to allow the young striker to focus on getting his career back on track. While Southgate admits that he hasn’t closely tracked Greenwood’s progress in Spain, he believes that allowing him to play abroad has been a positive move.
Greenwood has only been capped once by England, back in 2020 when he came off the bench in a 1-0 victory over Iceland. However, his time with the national team was short-lived as he and Manchester City’s Phil Foden were withdrawn from the squad for breaking Covid quarantine guidelines. Since then, Greenwood has not been in contention for an England call-up.
Interestingly, Greenwood is also eligible to play for Jamaica, and their head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has expressed his desire to have the young striker in his team. Hallgrimsson stated that he would love to have the best players in his squad but ultimately, the decision lies with the player himself.
While Greenwood’s future at Manchester United remains uncertain, the club has reportedly valued him at £40 million. United’s new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has left the door open for the striker’s return to Old Trafford. Meanwhile, club officials have been in talks with counterparts from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, indicating potential interest in the talented forward.
In conclusion, Mason Greenwood’s chances of making it into the England squad for Euro 2024 are slim. Gareth Southgate wants him to focus on his career abroad and believes that his presence in the squad at this moment would be a distraction. However, with his successful loan spell at Getafe and potential interest from top clubs, Greenwood’s future remains bright, whether it be with England or elsewhere.