Since he's brought in Spain, im thinking this reduces the chances of him colombianating at some point. Anyway, fingers crossed we can get him to join us
If he keeps putting in these performances and gets chances in big games Spain would have to be completely brain dead not to at minimum add him to the squad. He's a better fit then what they have currently, Cubarsi and Huijsen are very good on the ball and in lots of areas but are weak 1v1 defending so he's a good profile to match with them going forward and he's good on the ball just as not aggressive with the ball as those 2 passing.
they have a top 4 league with tons of CBs and in Europe outside of France are the 2nd most popular country to get players from. They have options. Us on the other hand its Cuesta(failed in turkey) or 3 super injury prone players in Mina, Cabal and Yerson Mosquera
Im thinking he'll wait until the very end to pick Colombia, if that even happens. Always assuming Spain don't call him up from now until the world cup
For a 17 year old Yepes, falcao, Abel Aguilar , Zuniga but a left back and James regen to appear and dominate to make the World Cup.
We knew this for a good while. History with Spain's youth team at different levels. Him not being called to the senior team and the small drama back in October gives me hope.
Had a couple poor give aways passing out of the back in an overall ok game. I kind of want him to not play his best so Spain doesn't call him and we get him, let De La Fuente continue to be an idiot and not change his bias.
Even then this fella would be overlooked. We still have until March to try again and if he doesn't accept our call and offer, then the ship is sailed for both Colombia and Spain for him at the 2026 world cup.
Will he have the love for the camiseta if all this time he has been saying he is Spanish and wants to play for Spain? That is the million dollar question.
I am trying to think of any case in World futbol of a player who wanted to play for the first team (after playing all of the levels of youth futbol.) and then got rejected and performed well with the sloppy seconds. I am sure it happens but I do not think it is often.
No. He can basically do the paperwork and become a Colombian any time he wants. **That said, If he is going to play for us in the World Cup it usually take six months or so for it to be evaluated and approved by FIFA. So it is cutting it real close. But that time is not set in stone and can be expedited I suppose.
I still think that due to him never representing the senior side, it could be significantly less length in evaluation. Let's see what happens when the March friendlies come around and we try to sway him.
It's really irrelevant, the player is the player the game is the game, lots of players switched nationalities and have great careers after representing another country in youth football. Owen Hargreaves, Declan Rice, Jamal Musiala, Ivan Rakitic, Koulibaly, Aymeric Laporte, Aubemeyang, Diego Costa all switched. You go for what you can control which is soccer talent, everything else is conjecture.
None of those guys literally said that they were one Nationality though. At least I do not remember them saying it so specifically to the media. He said he was Spanish not Colombian. I have said multiple times I would take the guy based on his talent. I am just trying to figure out if there is a situation like his. I cannot think of any.
People say alot of things, I don't know anyone who's part of the Colombian diaspora who doesn't have a connection to Colombia. There are examples of players switching from Ireland to England, and to a large portion of Irish England is the mortal enemy.