Balogun spent years deciding his path, whether to rep the USMNT or England (or Nigeria, but did he really?). Decisions by dual national players are never come to easy. Do you represent the country of your birth? Do you represent the country of your family? Do you represent the country that has provided you with the chances and opportunities you have received/earned ? Sometimes it is business and other times it’s emotional.
But Balogun chose to represent the USMNT as a near golden boot winner in Ligue One, when opportunities to represent England would have come. Perhaps it was the fast track to the senior team the USMNT offers, perhaps it was the scouting and recruiting prowess of Gregg Berhalter and Anthony Hudson, perhaps it was Timothy Weah and Yunus Musah persuasive communications, perhaps fans interaction or even Southgate spurning the chance to call him up last window.
Derek and Brett will discuss this and likely address the talks of “merc’ing” when it comes to players who have little to no connection to the US outside of being born (and then moved) stateside OR born of US parents (but never visited stateside).
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