American signs with PSG http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=8019863&BRD=1079&PAG=461&dept_id=170337&rfi=8 Good luck to him, I hope he has a good future in Europe!
Re: American signs with PSG i have heard wispers about an afghan-american kid from ny who is amazingly talented, so i suppose this is him. i hope he impresses across the pond. anyone have any solid information on him? anyone seen him play?
Way to go Mo! Best of luck, do NYC proud and, most importantly, have a great time. No matter what happens on the field, embarking on an adventure like that as a young man in Paris has to be both a great experience and opportunity and makes this poster green with envy.
Best of luck to this kid, this is the player that Real were looking at not too long ago. Having this kid turn out to be our Zidane would be great!
Perhaps LD should heed the words of this wise 15-year-old, and get the hell back across the pond. “If you play over in Europe, it’s easier to play here on the national team,” Mohammed Mashriqi said. “The MLS is a good level also, but I want to see how the top level is first.”
Well, Landon did see the top level first, and then he came back. Hopefully Mashriqi (which is an awesome last name by the way, it sounds great) does so well that he doesn't fell like he has to come to the MLS to get playing time.
Another ODP success story? from link above: Mohammed Mashriqi was a member of the U.S. Under-14 national team, and it was during the training camp to select that team that he drew the attention of European scouts, including one with a connection to PSG
Wow! Pretty cool. But if he's that good wouldn't he be better off developing at Bradenton? At PSG he'll just be another player in a sea of prospects. Just playing Devil's Advocate here.
If he gets playing time over there, that's infinitely better than just training. Even if he gets in reserve matches, that's light years beyond just training.
Anyone remember this kid being brought up by Tommy Smyth (I think) on some TV match a couple of years ago? (I'm pretty sure it was that long ago) I've been meaning to ask here if anyone knew whatever happened to him. I guess I don't have to ask now.
The only difference I see is the language barrier.....PSG probably has an academy set up also, and there is a ton of Dutch influence in their philosophies. Reportedly the kid is really creative, and those kinds of players are in short supply in Europe(minus Spain and Portugal).
Just when I think bigsoccer has made me at least vaguely aware of all the young american prospects, this kid just pops up out of nowhere and trains with PSG. Pretty amazing.
The article said that he is training with the club. It sounded liked a trial. @ [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ Mashriqi is training with the Under-17 team of prestigious club Paris St. Germain, simply known as PSG around the world....... A good performance could mean a permanent spot on the club next season. A spot on the First Division side and the realization of his dream of playing professional soccer may not be too far behind.
i still don't understand why the title says that he has signed with psg. it's just a training stint isn't it? it's great for the kid, but these things happen all the time. somebody help me out if i'm wrong.
You're right, it never said he signed, I probably shouldn't have said that, but training with them certainly means something.
I guess Smyth does know something about american kids after all. i hope this kid makes it big. i am sure there are other kids with teams overseas it just we never hear about them.
Is he even eligible to sign a professional contract at 15? I thought he had to wait until his 17th birthday for that, or is that just an FA thing (I'm basing this on the rooney deal, where IIRC he wasn't under contract, but instead receiving taxi expenses, until his 17 birthday. Best of luck to him, regardless.
I had broken out a list of youth players overseas from my main list... Don't have it anymore and I think the thread about it was lost. I'll see if I can work something up again.