by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
Vincenzo Bernardo has a decision to make.
Despite comments earlier in his career about wanting to suit up for the U.S., and contrary to some reports, Bernardo has yet to decide if he wants to play for the United States or Italy at the senior level.
In an exclusive interview with SBI, Bernardo revealed that his decision is far from made.
"I wouldn't say that I declared anything really," Bernardo said, referring to comments he made in 2007 on choosing the U.S. over Italy. "I was asked an important question that came when I was very young in my career. However, I do not regret anything I said regarding wanting to represent USA."
Bernardo's latest comments are sure to worry some American fans, who are all too familiar with drawing the short end of the stick when it comes to talented young players with dual citizenship. In 2008 alone, the U.S. lost two talented prospects, Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) and Neven Subotic (Serbia), to European countries.
Unlike Rossi and Subotic though, Bernardo has come out publicly and stated that his choice still remains in the hands of the U.S. Soccer Federation and U-20 head coach Thomas Rongen.
"My decision lies heavily on the U-20 cycle with USA," Bernardo said in an interview via email with SBI.
That U-20 cycle has not started well for Bernardo in 2009. In January, reports surfaced that Bernardo and three other players had been dismissed by Rongen from a U.S. training camp held in Sunrise, Fl. due to disciplinary reasons.
However, the latest disappointment came earlier this week when Bernardo failed to get called into the U-20 national team camp in Bradenton, Fl., home of the U.S. residency program. The 20-player team is making its final preparations for the U-20 World Cup qualifying tournament which starts in Trinidad and Tobago on March 6.
Bernardo would not disclose whether it was Napoli which prevented him from playing in the qualifying tournament or if Rongen decided to omit him from the team (A U.S. Soccer source told SBI that Bernardo was not chosen).
"I was told by the people around me not to comment on that question," Bernardo said.
Bernardo, who has his own website, also said that his ultimate short term goal is to play in the U-20 World Cup in Egypt in the fall.
"Today being almost three years older and more mature on and off the field, I've realized how important this decision is for me so I will take into serious consideration both options," Bernardo said.
"I do feel the same way as I did back in 2007, but I would say that I am more aware of the situation."
Bernardo is in no rush to make a decision. He has until his 21st birthday, May 22nd of 2011, to declare for a national team.
What do you think of Bernardo's comments? Shocked? Think the USSF/Rongen is letting another star-in-the-making get away? Do you see Bernardo suiting up for USA when everything is all said and done?
Share your thoughts below.
From the website bearing his name (I wouldn’t call it his website becasue it’s probably closer to his agents website):
“Vincenzo therefore rejects any statement opposite to that thought.”
so I guess these quotes by Gianfranco are the “thoughts” he is rejecting:
“I wouldn’t say that I declared anything really,” Bernardo said, referring to comments he made in 2007 on choosing the U.S. over Italy. “I was asked an important question that came when I was very young in my career. However, I do not regret anything I said regarding wanting to represent USA.”
And:
“My decision lies heavily on the U-20 cycle with USA.” ,
Kid, get a new agent and/or PR and fast.
Turtle – noticed that too….
the drama continues….
You can’t lose something that was never yours to begin with, Ives. Yes, Rossi was born and raised here until he was a young teenager. However, he was never going to play for us. Plain and simple. There is nothing USSF could’ve done. He never played in our youth setup and signed on with Parma as a teen.
The USSF did reach out to him. He and his father had his heart set on Italy. So to put him alongside Subotic and this kid is disingenuous in that it suggests that USSF is somehow responsible. You are a decent writer and I like your blog and visit every day. I wish you would just acknowledge this reality.
definitely if I were him … I rather play for Italy no Doubt !!
His official website is saying that his statements on Soccerbyives were “misconstrued” and his first choice for now and the future is the US.
That still doesn’t answer the question of how good he is though…
Just saw this post on his website:
Vincenzo Bernardo on http://www.soccerbyives.com interview
February 27, 2009
Vincenzo Bernardo said that he was misrepresented in his statements on the site http://www.soccerbyives.com. In the article, states Vincenzo having doubt with his decision to represent U.S.A.; which is false. He ASSURES to be very happy to be part of the U.S.A program and declares that this is his first choice TODAY, AND IN THE FUTURE. Vincenzo therefore rejects any statement opposite to that thought.
I can’t find any evidence that Italy even wants him. I could be wrong.
But at least other countries were literally clamoring for Rossi and Subotic. Who is this kid to basically demand to play for the U-20s when Italy hasn’t even shown interest (again, unless I’m wrong)?
This doesn’t endear him to me, running his mouth like this. However, if he does actually have a shot with Italy, I will not hold this interview against him. But Rossi played for Italy at youth levels.
Bernardo is a hype machine but has little to back it up.
Rossi was owning the EPL reserve team for Man U. Bernardo isn’t even playing for the Premavera side.
He wasn’t loaned out in January (despite Bernardo and his agent in December saying there was lots of interest).
People really need to stop blaming Rongen. Bernardo has to earn a roster spot and he still has a chance between now and the U20 World Cup.
I am actually happy with the players we do have.
Jeffrey, the only kinds of players you lose are the ones you DEVELOP. Rossi was developed by an Italian club to become an Italian youth international. Had he settled for the US after playing for Italian youth teams for 5 years, we would have been stealing him from Italy. Sorry, that’s just how the cookie crumbles. And if being born in and spending a good part one’s life in another country obligates one to play for that country, what do you make of Freddy Adu? But he was never developed by Ghana, so we didn’t steal him, just like we never developed Rossi and therefore didn’t lose him. It was always going to be Italy or nothing with him.
Napoli is currently in season and yet he’s playing in an international tournament for youth club teams including Inter, Pumas, AaB, QPR plus many more italian and international sides. He wasn’t representing Napoli. They weren’t in the tournament. He was playing for the New York Stars (according to his own website).
What’s the deal? Something doesn’t seem right. Anybody know more about the NY team?
bernardo’s a zero, if he was really that good he would already be in the first team or on loan at with someone else’s first team.
The fact is that though there are occassionally 5 foot nothing players that are special (messi, maradona), in the the modern game he just doesn’t cut it. We need bigger, stronger players…I’d take kljestan and bradley over him anyday…look across europe its all about big strong athletic players at every position…zlatan, ronaldo, yaya toure…etc
thanks for clearing up the conflict with ESPN article, Ives
it looks like this article was made just for the media attetion!!
look at his website!!
http://www.vincenzobernardo.net
Steve, Rossi was almost 13 when he left, 13 when he started playing at Parma. That’s still more than half his life he was born and raised in the United States and you still don’t get why people say we “Lost” him? If you can’t figure that one out then you’re pretty dense.
And as far as I know, Rossi has spent every single summer since he left back in the United States, so don’t act like the kid has no ties to this country.
Arena on Rossi
“We’re not chasing around 18-year-old players that can’t get games for their club team and tell me they want to play for Italy. It’s a futile exercise.”
Exact Quote.
Two points:
I’m not sure when Ravi Uhba’s story was written, or when his interview with Bernardo took place, but I can say that Bernardo’s answers in the SBI article came on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Could things have changed for Bernardo since his interview with Uhba? Perhaps. Could he be posturing? Possibly.
Also, regarding Rossi, while it is true that Rossi never played for the youth national teams growing up, he was still an American citizen and was born here and lived here until he was 14. Now he plays for Italy. If he isn’t playing for the United States given his history then he was lost. Not sure how that can be argued.
Posted by: Ives | February 27, 2009 at 10:50 AM
————————
Ives
Rossi was at Parma Youth Academy Dec, 1999. His age was 12yrs and 10 months. Hence at 14 he didn’t live in the USA.
Also, how can lose someone who left US before he turned 13 and never wanted to play for US, but played for Italy from 2003 and Onwards.
thanks for the clarification, brandon. boy has rossi make arena eat those words.
If he’s really that sick, why not just have bobby b cap him for one of the light hex qualifiers
I think both those who are calling for Rongen’s head and those trashing this Bernardo kid are being irrational, no one here has seen enough of this kid to make a judgement on whether he should be on the team or not…quit it with the nonsense…
He wouldn’t even make the C team. Kids that would play at the senior level for a lot of countries are still waiting to be called up to the U21 level.
@jmac…
The story I hear is that Rossi was offered a chance to be added the the WCQF/WC rosters but turned Arena down. If that’s accurate or not I don’t know.
Does Italy have a C team?
Serioulsy, how does this kid play for Napoli and the New York Stars at the same time?
whether bernardo deserved to be on the team or not is only one issue here. the larger issue is the disease called rongen. think of this bernardo episode as one more symptom of that requires a speedy diagnosis by dr. sunil.
Brandon, thank you for posting that Bruce Arena comment about Rossi. Funny stuff.
jmac – I’m pretty sure that arena was trying to tempt rossi to the us by giving him a wc roster spot, but he declined the invite. then bruce said something along the lines, ‘he wasn’t going to comment about 18 year olds who think they’ll play for italy’
TOMORROW, FULHAM V ARSENAL ON FSC AT 8:00 EASTERN!~!
WOOHOO
Brian, stop it. You are making too much sense.
to be quite honest ive never heard of the guy until now, but he strikes me as a guy whos just trying to do whats good for him.
sounds kind of like a situation where Im sure he would be happy playing for the U.S. only given the condition that theres no way a team like Italy would play him. And that if seeing playing time for Italy was ever a possibility for him that he would leave the U.S. for Italy.
i can understand this, but it strikes me as having no real pride or sense of attachment to the USSF.
in the end though, whatevver.
Getting back to Rossi, weren’t there rumors before WC 06 that Rossi would play for the US if Arena would guarantee him a spot on the WC roster?
If that’s true, we need to lay some Rossi-blame at Arena’s feet. He brought EJ, an injured John O’Brien, and Eddie Pope to the last WC.
Tom, that made me laugh. Thanks for bringing some hilarity to the situation.
Ryan,
How do you know Bernardo deserved to be on the U20 Qualifying team?
This dual citizenship is a nightmare. Because these players know they can use that as a leverage to make a coach chose them. Where do you draw the line on that threat? If he is a good player and he is following the rules, not a continual discinplinary problem, then it is a no brainer. But if he is so so, or feels like he can get away with whatever he wants because he holds that threat of choosing Italy that is an issue.
rongen is a problem. when a coach gets too big a head (i.e. bruce arena) and starts thinking he is more important to the program than his players, it is time for him to get the heave ho. coaches like rongen and arena play games with players in order to puff up their own egos, and the loser in the situation is the u.s. men’s team. yet another reason why bob bradley is doing such a good job. he gets it. so does the u-17 coach.
Thomas Rongen is the Anti Christ.
My opinion on these issues is always shaped by how long the player in question has lived in each country. For example, I don’t begrudge Brede Hangeland at all for playing for Norway, because he was only born here and then grew up entirely in Norway. I also would have been fine with Subotic playing for Germany (where he lived for many years), but am mad that we lost him to Serbia (where he lived only shortly as a baby).
In this case, Bernado lived in Jersey until he was 16! I sure considered myself an American by the time I was 16. And he only moved to Italy to pursue his soccer career. I will be very unhappy if he ends up playing for Italy.
Rogen is actually a good youth coach. He gets his teams to play well against some very good teams at that age level.
Our 2003 and 2007 teams played very well against teams like Argentina, Brazil, and other world class teams. Rongen’s teams have played attacking soccer and the players all have shown good fundamentals under him. In 2007, the US team saw many players earn European professional contracts based on their play under Rongen. Adu, Altidore, Szetela, Zizzo, and Arguez (who was only a bench player) all moved overseas afterward. Rogers blossomed in the MLS after Canada. His former youth players all have said they learned a lot from him and enjoyed playing under him.
People who claim Rongen is a bad U20 coach have no idea what they are talking about. His teams always compete and play good soccer. Something we have lacked in the USA.
And critizing him for Bernardo also makes no sense. Has anyone seen him play? I bet you haven’t. I read the Ives article and I can’t say I am impressed with Bernardo’s take on the whole thing. I want the kid to just be a man and admit he needs to earn his roster spot.
I would be impressed with him if he said something along the lines of “I guess I have to raise my game on the field and prove my worth to the coach. I am determined to do that and to make the U20 final roster in September.”
Saying that how the USSF treats him in this U20 cycle as being the key factor of which country he plays for makes him seem like a brat. It’s a two way street. Why isn’t he taking any form of personal responsibility for making the team through his own play?
Using a duel passport as a form of a threat to hold over a coach to force inclusion on a national team roster is an major a-hole move, imho. Especially coming from a 18 year old that isn’t playing anywhere.
I may exercise my Irish passport and spurn the US for Ireland. How does that make you feel? Should Bob Bradley cap me today? Do you want to possibly miss out on a slow, overweight, middle-aged field general?
I’m 53 I can’t wait forever.
I’m confused, and I’m sure someone can enlighten me. He plays in Italy for Napoli? But on his website he’s playing for the New York Stars. i don’t get it.
Here’s the deal: we have many multi-ethnic people in this country. We have limited USA team spots (regardless of level). Someone is always bound to be left out, and then the option is: Do I go elsewhere?
As fans, we only see “we lost another!” The coach has to figure: is his quality better than anothers? If they are the same, they also look at character. Bernardo–no clue how he is now, was DISMISSED for screwing up. Maybe he still has immaturity. I have no clue, But all those factors and more go into decisions.
Rossi never seemed to want to play here. Subotic–NOW he looks good, but pehaps Rongen had a good reason to leave him off, and never thought Subotic would bail, either.
If every player that threatened to leave got picked, what kind of crap is that?
And yes, Rongen’s decisions should be evaluated, but not on just whether we lose someone or not.
We have no scouts in europe to watch Bernardo train with Napoli’s first team. How do we know anything at this point? With all said, He is training with a Serie A team day in and day out. unlike many of the players on the roster for U20. i feel that bernardo is just making himself heard by saying that nothing is for sure. Good for him
Of course there is the question of whether Vincenzo is good enough and whether Rongen should be pilloried for potentially allowing him to slip away.
However, the broader question is whether this is an indicator of a larger pattern that demonstrates that Rongen is not competent. In order to make that assessment you’ve got to take a broader sample than just this case and the case of Subotic and Rossi and look at the rest of his career, notably his experience as an MLS head coach and in other roles within the USSF. I believe that after considering his record with Tampa Bay, New England, and DC United as well as the U-20s record under him, you come to the inevitable conclusion that he is mediocre at best.
Mediocrity at this pivotal transition point between the youth and senior level programs is unacceptable. He should go.
Rather Rongen’s word SHOULD NOT be law and the final determination. His judgments have clearly been questionable in the past. It’s just too important for US Soccer to get this right for them to give all the determining power to Thomas.
Rongen should just call the guy and swallow his pride. This is ridiculous. The whole roster for qualifying was ridiculous.
Damn it, if Rongen needs oversight, he needs oversight! The U-20s are an important formative stage in the careers of our young players, Rongen can’t have all the power in determining who’s in and who’s out, damaging our relationships with some of this up-and-coming talent with dual citizenships.
He can’t be allowed to piss away some of our most talented players just based on his “vision” or lack of vision. It’s not like Rongen brought us an U-20 WC championship, so his word is and should not be law.
The best way to look at Rongen is to look at the defenders he chose in front of Nevin Subotic. Rongen obviously has no eye or way two many prejudices.
Is the guy good enough to make the Azzuri?
Rossi is another story.. the boy has talent and produces..
It’s bluff time
Ives, I’d really like to see a follow up where you get some info on where he compares to the rest of the players in the U-20 pool at his position. Actually, just an overall piece on the state of the U20 side would be great.
Also, I don’t think just locking up players from am Intl status that we don’t ever think will contribute is the right answer. We really need to pull in the best players possible with any selection – not just select someone bc they might be good an have dual citizenship. I’ve never geard of this guy before, so I have no perspective on how he may fit.
I do think the issue Ives raises here is a good one. The US coaches definitely need to consider this aspect.
Why do we freak out about this? They are kids and they make their own choices.
They owe us nothing legally and we act like insecure idiots every time one flirts with choosing another.
We play with the ones who are proud and determined to put on the red, white and blue jersey and just wish the others well as they go on their merry way.
This happens every day around the integrated world we live in so get used to it.
And Ives- shame on you for fanning the flames on this issue at every opportunity because you know what a insecure bunch we USA soccer fans are and how we precieve everything as a grave insult because of it.
TK, I generally agree with your assessment. However, i think you are wrong on one perception. I, like you apparenlty, expected to open up the comments section and see post after post hammering TR and glorifying this kid we know little about. However, to my surprise, i think about 70% of the posts on here have been of the “who cares, who is he anyway and we know nothing of him” sort. So, when you say “you guys kill me”, i think you’re preaching to a small minority…..thankfully.
Carry on
How can people possibly say that in two years Subotic suddenly became not good enough to MAKE the U-20 squad to becoming a bundisliga standout but that Rongen wasn’t incorrect for not selecting him!? Yes, players do develop over time, but to become how good Subotic is now, Subotic HAD to have considerable talent 2 years before, especially compared to all the no-names that eventually made the roster at CB.
In my mind, its unequivocal that Rongen completely messed up on Subotic. Hopefully, he isn’t doing the same with this kid.
Also, didn’t Bryan Arguez (one of the other supposed trouble makers) make the training camp??