When the U.S. Under-17 national team kicks off its World Cup in Nigeria on Oct. 26, scouts will have their eyes trained on several of the U.S. team's top prospects, including midfielder Luis Gil, who is being pursued by a growing number of European clubs.
Gil had been set to join English club Arsenal's youth academy, but sources tell SBI that new interest from another UEFA Champions League team, coupled with interest from multiple clubs in Spain, could mean a new destination for the California native.
Gil, forward Jack McInerney and midfielder Marlon Duran are just three of the top young prospects who will be showcased on a U.S. Under-17 team that is expected to have a strong tournament despite the absence of top U-17 prospects Charlie Renken and Joseph Gyau.
What do you think about the increased European interest in U.S. youth players? Which Under-17 player are you most looking forward to watching next week when the USA takes on Spain?
Share your thoughts below.
none. academy players aren’t under contract and therefore free to leave at any time. Even in Europe where u-17s can be under contract, those contracts are for one year only at a time, and players are free to move between clubs without compensation. of course, tampering is still a problem.
I’m wondering the same thing. I thought Arsenal’s Academ was considered second to none.
Let’s get real, none of these guys are not even 18 and are naturally somewhere around sophomores to seniors in HS. While they are all very good, it is impossible to know which, if any, will blossom into real stars (or even solid professionals) in the next 4 to 8 years. There are so many facets of development that come into play no one can tell who will really continue to improve, who will stagnate or who will crash and burn.
On the upside, they do all have great potential and it will be fun watching them strive to fulfill that potential. (It will also be fun in 5 years to see which 22 year-old comes along to replace the present favorites.) For example, I don’t think Bornstein, Flores, Goodson, R. Clark, C. Davies or Feilhaber were even on the national radar as U-17s nor did they attend Bradenton, though all were standout HS players.
I second the atdhe.net notion.
Also go to Youtube and type in concacaf usa u17 in the search bar and you can watch some full games of these kids from the CONCACAF Championship of 2009.
I like the left back Tyler Polak(#3).
I’m kinda stunned more people aren’t talking about Stefan Jerome. From the little I’ve seen, he seemed very promising. Any one know anything about potential moves for him?
I love this kid. Him and Jack are my favorite players that I have watched. They are both still VERY young. I believe Gil is only 15.
Let’s not have another Adu and have years wasted sitting on the bench while he could be playing in a lower league. We always have a tendency to jump on guys too early and push them too hard. I hope for the best with their development. Very excited about the U-17 world cup as well.
MLS rules aren’t the only problems. NCAA rules about professional athletes mean a lot of these kids have to choose between getting a free college education or joining the pro ranks and the bottom rung, where most of them won’t become successful.
It won’t happen until MLS either reinstates the Reserve league or they make it much easier for teams to sign from their academies. As of right now, not even all of the MLS teams have academies, however, some, RBNY and Houston in particular, have top notch academies, by American standards, that would already be providing a pipeline into their full squad if they weren’t hampered by the MLS’s rules on signing academy prospects. I have no real MLS team, since I live in the south and there’s no Southeastern team to represent, but I could imagine how excited I’d be as an RBNY fan to see a local boy like Duka or Kassel out there giving the team a little something to cheer about. That’s how you build fan support in my opinion, not bringing over-the-hill foreigners and paying them over-the-top salaries.
As 15-year-olds go, Renken is a bonafide No. 10. put him in the hole and let him roam free and do whatever he wants. (Again, as 15-year-olds go.) Likely won’t be fully healthy until the turn of the new year.
I know he was born in the US (California, I think). I was just wondering if he had some other kind of citizenship where he could jump ship ala Rossi or possibly this Lletget kid. Only thing I’ve turned up is his mother is Mexican, so he could possibly be eligible for them.
why not go to arsenal youth academy. Arsene loves talented projects and most get a shot within a few years either in the FA or Carling Cup.
I am with dan also in that hopefully the MLS’ new CBA allows for our young talent to play here first then transfer to bigger clubs
Assuming these under 17 players all want to sign a pro contract the MLS had better find a way to keep a good number of them in their league. Many of them will get real minutes in the MLS way before they get on the field in Europe.It is hard to find a 17 thru 20 year old who went to Europe and is starting in one of the big 5 leagues without playing in the MLS first and even there some of them have yet to make it( Adu, Altidore,& Johnson are examples of not making it to date). The new CBA hopefully ease some of the monitary problems for the player and the MLS needs GOOD American players to help draw fans.
I’m pretty sure he was born in the US.
Does this Gil kid have dual citizenship of some sort?
I agree with Erik above, should be a no-brainer to pick Arsenal Youth Academy if offered the opportunity. “There’s only one Arsene Wenger”
well RM was the rumored interest in Spain before his stint with Arsenal…. im only assuming they are keeping tabs
I might be too much of a fanboy, but it would be hard for me to pass up on Arsenal given the chance. I have a crush on Arsene Wenger’s style of play and the fact that he really promotes growing the club from youth is a definite positive.
Wherever these guys end up, I hope it works out for them.
I think Luis Gil speaks English.
Ives, do you want to mention what the clubs in Spain are?
It sure is nice to see more and more younger American players developing in some of the world’s best youth systems. It doesn’t always mean success, but at least the more we have developing in better systems, the greater chance the USA has of having top-notch talent for the national team. I’m always excited about the World Cup, but hoping for the “what if” to come true of these players potential and looking forward to the 2014/2018 World Cups!
I assume this is old news for Gil considering he already has interest form Real Madrid.
and of course it will be on atdhe.net
Oh the glory of that site in the last six months I’ve watched more soccer there than any other station throughout my whole life.
What is Renken’s natural/best position? What’s the timetable on his recovery?
climate? thats not quite the issue.. how about language, opportunity to play, coaching scheme, etc…
that said Vela’s route would be great for Gil. sign with powerhouse, Arsenal?, and spend a two-three years in lower level spanish or dutch teams
Ferrari was in the in MetroBull youth team and they did not get any compensation from the italian club
gil, as with a number of kids on this team, are going to be heavily scouted this tourney…. hopefully Gil lands a nice location
ESPNU and 360
Spot on…. anyone missed the events simply need to read the first paragraph to be caught up
Reading that 3-part interview on TOW i can’t help but think maybe something like what was done with Carlos Vela would be good in this situation (climate more similar to home) with loaning him out.
Never really thought about the drastic change to training 3-5 days a week in the cold rain of england, as compared to what someone is used to in CA or FLA.
While an english team picking up this kid would be sweet, i wonder what a shock to the system the change of climate would be
Luis Gil is my boy on facebook real down to earth guy
are these games going to be on tv?
Renken is still injured. Gyau may have had a falling out with Cabrera. Gyau likely didn’t want to join the team in its pre-WC camp and stay with Hoffenheim/Vacnouver Whitecaps. He was also being surpassed on the depth chart as well, which is interesting because he seems like a very good player. Hopefully this means the players who are on this team instead of Gyau are much better.
No official reasons given. Here’s the scuttlebut (assuming you aren’t being facetious):
Renken injured. My opinion on Gyau was that he had drifted to the fringe (+ his dad is a headcase). Lletget decided time spent at his pro club > time spent in camp with U-17s.
Good luck to each of them, but as none of them will be with the team they are way off my radar now. Let’s go Carlos Martinez! Jack Mac is already a beast, hope he shows it on this stage. And gil and duran seem like a new type of CM combo. IMO better to pay attention to the players that we will actually be able to see, than players who we have only heard hype about and won’t be able to see.
I missed it. Why weren’t Charlie Renken and Joseph Gyau included?
As academy players aren’t signed to the professional squad, I’m not certain that the team or MLS would receive compensation.
There are so many disincentives in place with the current Academy system, but honestly I think the rules will be totally revamped in the near future.
While it would be nice to see them win / make a strong run (and I will certainly be rooting for the team to do so), I’m most interested to see the individual performances and perhaps get a glimpse of some players who may be moving on to higher levels. Should be fun!
Question for Ives–
If a European team comes in and wants to get a player from the NYRB academy, what type of compensation does NY get and what does the MLS get?
cj, Maybe a better way to say that is their development slows down. There just aren’t enough high level coaches and playing opportunities for the kids to keep up with their European counterparts. Playing college ball is NOT the equivalent of being in a youth system at a good club, be it Ajax, Chelsea, or even Celtic.
I hope they win this thing….
I think the Europeans are starting to realize there are some really great youth players over here but you have to get them around 16 or 17 because after that age kids skill level go down in this country.