According to a recent report, Folarin Balogun has decided on who he will play his international football for after choosing between the USA & England.
It’s not just Folarin Balogun’s club future which is up in the air at the moment, but there’s also the issue over which country he will choose to represent at international level.
The New York born striker has 13 caps for England Under-21s, underlining his qualities with seven goals at that level. However, the USA are pushing hard to persuade the Arsenal loanee to pledge his international future to them.
Folarin Balogun representing the England U21s. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
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According to TEAMtalk, the 21-year-old is ready to make a commitment to USMNT ahead of England. It’s now being reported officials from the USA football set-up are confident they can persuade the player to commit to them.
Folarin Balogun has scored 17 goals & recorded two assists from 27 appearances while on loan in Ligue One so far this campaign. So there’s really no surprise why both countries are desperate to acquire the services of the promising striker.
The FA continue to battle hard to convince him and are continuing talks with him and his people.
England boss Gareth Southgate spoke about the player over the weekend, but insists he is no immediate hurry to fast-track him into the senior set-up.
Gareth Southgate said:
“I haven’t yet spoken to Balogun because to this point, he has been with the under-21s and very happy. Clearly other nations have been quite aggressive in their recruitment and what they are offering.
That, in my experience of history, has sometimes been really successful for the players and sometimes hasn’t worked out. I’ve seen countries cap players at 16 or 17 and they’ve disappeared. In the end, as a player, I think you back yourself but you have got to ultimately make the decision.
We would like him to give it some time and if he is progressing the way he is and continues that progression there will be opportunities for him but I cannot offer him that this week.
I think if we did, I don’t think that would be fair on Ivan Toney who has scored the goals he has in the Premier League.
Flo we like. He has obviously not had an opportunity in the Premier League, yet, so we have to weigh up those goals to Ivan, for example, or Ollie Watkins, or Eddie Nketiah who has done really well with the opportunity he has had at Arsenal.”
Folarin Balogun has a bit of time to decide which club he wants to be playing his football at next season, however internationally the 21-year-old is set to make a decision very soon and it’s looking likely the promising striker will choose to represent the USA over England.
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