Photo by ISIphotos.com
With Christmas just a few hours away, and way too much negativity simmering following Neven Subotic's decision to play for Serbia, I felt it was time to remind everybody about a player who did choose the U.S. national team.
Jose Francisco Torres just turned 21 in October, starts regularly for Mexican power Pachuca, and is coming off a solid showing at the FIFA Club World Cup. He also happens to have chosen the United States over Mexico, which should make his decision to don the American colors doubly satisfying to American fans. A central midfielder with impressive skill and plenty of room to grow, Torres has a bright future and that future will be as part of the U.S. national team.
So take a break from all the hatred aimed at Subotic and remember this player, this American-born and American-bred player. It is certainly more in line with the Christmas spirit to appreciate what you have rather than regret what you don't.
Is there any chance of this guy making a move to Europe?
TimN:
Not sure if you know or care but the US wasn’t Torres’s first choice, it was Mexico.
And you can’t be that insecure to claim that Neven owes you something, he didn’t, the US took a chance with helping a foreign player develop and the kid made his choice.
His parents had to pay hefty fees to come to the US and they also pay their taxes. What more do you want?
@ Johhny Boy,
Yes, some have used the word “traitor,” and I agree that’s a bit strong and harsh. However, the examples you cite of Jozy/Haiti and Freddie/Ghana actually illustrate the point that I believe some are trying to make with guys like Subotic and Rossi. Jozy’s and Freddie’s games were developed HERE, not in Haiti or Ghana, so choosing the U.S. was not only a loyal move to the federation that built them up, but also in those two particular cases was the “smarter” one. Now, Serbia may get more “attention” than the U.S. in Europe by the clubs, but on the flip side Serbia was not where Subotic got his early football opportunities, or developed his game. It was the U.S., so I guess some feel he is not showing appreciation to the hand that fed him.