EXPRESS
Anthony Hudson has admitted that he held talks with striker Folarin Balogun in Florida this week, amid a serious push from US Soccer for him to switch his international allegiance from England. The 21-year-old has been pictured in Florida, where the USMNT had been training and preparing for Nations League matches at Grenada on Friday and against El Salvador in Orlando on Monday.
Hudson said during a virtual media availability on Thursday: “As I’ve said before, we’ve had dialogue. We’ve spoken. He’s out here having a bit of a break and then some training, and we’ve had some discussions.
“I think it’s been good because it’s been an opportunity for us just to share about our program and who we are and what we do and that’s it. I hope we get the chance to speak to him again. It’s been good and I know a few of the guys have spoken to him as well.”
While he said he hasn’t spoken with Balogun, US star Christian Pulisic, who will captain the Americans against Grenada in the absence of injured Tyler Adams, added that: “Obviously, from our side, we’d love to have him.”
Balogun is having a breakout season at Stade de Reims in Ligue 1, on loan from Arsenal, with 17 goals in 27 matches, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David in the Golden Boot race.
The New York-born striker has mostly represented England at the international youth levels, though he did feature for the U.S. under-18 team at a tournament in 2018. Despite his goal-scoring form, Balogun was not called into the full England national team this international window and pulled out of the England under-21 camp with an undisclosed injury.
Balogun, who is also eligible to represent Nigeria, hinted at feeling snubbed by England, posting on his Instagram story: “In life, go where you’re appreciated.”
