Folarin Balogun ‘knows he has to fight’ to earn a spot in USA starting XI after snubbing England – as rising Arsenal star’s agent insists he won’t be cocky and expect to ‘walk into the team’
Folarin Balogun knows he must fight to claim his starting spot in the USMNT after he chose to play for his country of birth, snubbing England and Nigeria in the process.
The 21-year-old, who has 19 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches for Reims while on loan from Arsenal this season, had been on the US Soccer Federation’s radar for quite some time after representing the Stars and Stripes at youth level.
And now that the striker’s switched allegiance from the Three Lions, for who he played for at U-21 level, his agent, Eddie Bonsu, said that the Brooklynite will not get ahead of himself when he finally joins up with the USMNT.
‘One thing Flo knows: he’s not walking into the team as ”I’m the man,” Bonsu told The Athletic. ‘He knows he’s got to fight and prove himself.’
At the time of the announcement of his switch, Balogun revealed it was a ‘no-brainer’ for him to choose the US over England and Nigeria, the homeland of his parents. He could now make his debut for the senior side in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Mexico on June 16.
Folarin Balogun, 21, announced his commitment to represent the United States earlier in May
![The Arsenal striker's scored 19 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches while on loan for Reims this season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/20/16/71214809-12105957-image-a-18_1684595829440.jpg)
The Arsenal striker’s scored 19 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches while on loan for Reims this season
‘When I broke the news to my family they were all just over the moon, especially my mom,’ Balogun said. ‘She said, ”What took you so long?”, so for sure we were all on the same page. Then after that conversation, I just sent the message across to my agent and said ”Let’s make it happen.”
‘My decision to represent the United States, it came together with my family. We decided it would be the right thing for me, to represent the country I was born in. In the end, it became a no-brainer, but for sure, it’s just something I wanted to do and it feels like I’m at home safe.’
Retired US midfielder Eric Wynalda, who represented his country 104 times, claimed that ‘English arrogance’ led Balogun to turn his back on the country he was raised in since the age of two after being born in New York City.
![Gareth Southgate wanted Balogun to represent England U-21 at the Euros this summer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/20/16/71214819-12105957-image-a-20_1684596043053.jpg)
Gareth Southgate wanted Balogun to represent England U-21 at the Euros this summer
![Ex-US player Eric Wynalda has claimed that Southgate has underestimated Balogun's ability](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/20/16/71214833-12105957-image-a-19_1684596037812.jpg)
Ex-US player Eric Wynalda has claimed that Southgate has underestimated Balogun’s ability
‘Gareth Southgate has certainly made some missteps here with his comments about the talented American playing in France,’ Wynalda said on The Action Network, prior to adding: ‘Southgate said: ”We can’t just hand out international opportunities to a player simply because we don’t want them to play for somebody else”. Whoops – If he could take that one back now I think he would.
‘Southgate has completely underestimated Folarin’s ability and tried to shrug it off. Sorry, but there are times where English arrogance needs to be illuminated and this is one of them.’
While still trying to make his mind up during the Spring, FA representatives knew of the US Soccer Federation’s poaching of Balogun, and told the striker that he’d have good chances of being capped at senior level for the Three Lions after including him in the U-21’s squad for their UEFA Euro Championship run in Romani and Georgia.
But the player himself wanted to play on a team where he felt valued and could prove to be a difference maker in the long run.
‘He told [USMNT representatives] he feels like his heart is set on playing for the U.S.,’ Bonsu said. ‘He’s very much about that feeling. He said, ”I feel it. This is where I feel like I need to be.”’
With the switch of allegiances now completed, it’s time to see if it’ll pay off.
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