An 18-year-old star in the making will join the U.S. national team for the first time later this week, as Bayern Munich starlet Julian Green will practice with the USA in Frankfurt, Germany.
The attacker, who has already made his first-team debut for Bayern in the UEFA Champions League against CSKA Moscow earlier this season after dazzling in their reserve and youth squads, has been called up to the German national team at youth level as a tug of war between Germany and the U.S. has been cranked up a few notches over the talented youngster.
After announcing his 24-man squad for the friendly against Ukraine next Wednesday, U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann stated he has one eye on the USA’s future and Green has a big part to play be.
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Green, who was born in Tampa, Florida moved to Germany at a young age, has a German mother and an American father. His situation, as we’ve seen with many of the current U.S. national team players, means being a dual citizen is tough when you’re a talented soccer player and have top nations across the world vying for your commitment.
It’s an issue Klinsmann will likely have to deal with for many years to come, with many more players.
“With a lot of players who come through the ranks with dual citizenship, it’s going to be very difficult for those kids to choose which country they want to play for if they have this enormous talent to play at the highest level possible.”
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If Green does pick the U.S. over Germany, he has the ability and talent to become a focal point of the next generation of U.S. stars. Watching video clips of him playing for Bayern’s reserve side, he has poise, possesses a lethal shot, has skill, bags of pace and an eye for a pass. He has scored 15 goals and added six assists in 18 games for Bayern II this season, and at the age of 18 he has everything you’d want to see from a professional soccer player. Plus he’s being developed at the reigning European champions Bayern Munich where he’s highly thought of. This kid has star potential, no wonder the U.S. are so desperate to get him on board as the Olympics, Gold Cup and future World Cup qualifying tournaments hover on the horizon.
Grabbing Green from Germany would be a massive feather in the cap for Klinsmann and his squad. The two day training stint in Frankfurt later this week could have a huge impact on the future of the U.S. national team, as the USA roll out the red carpet for Green in hope he’ll chose to play for his homeland.