GIL MAY GO MLS ROUTE AFTER U-17 Brent Latham - Monday, November 2, 2009
American Under-17 midfielder Luis Gil has played spectacularly at times in Nigeria, and the fifteen year-old says now is the time for him to turn pro.
"Hopefully I'll go pro," said Gil. "I'm still young, I'm 15, but if opportunities come up I would take them."
The young American, who won't turn sixteen until the day of the final here in Nigeria, explained that although he has been linked with Arsenal, nothing is firm with the English club.
"There are a couple of words going out there saying that I had signed with them but in reality I just went there for about a week and a half on trial," Gil explained. "It was a good experience, the staff was good, the environment was beautiful. But as of now I've just done a trial, so far.
Speaking after a practice session in Nigeria, the American of Mexican descent also allayed any fear that he may want to wear the green jersey of the Tri-Color.
"My dad is Mexican himself, so I get that from him," said Gil, who added that he feels perfectly settled in the U.S. camp. "I got comfortable being here, I got most of my experience in the US, and I'm looking forward to playing for this team."
Gil said he would welcome the opportunity to play on the world's most competitive stage in Europe, but he is not ruling out options closer to home.
"It'd be a great opportunity but if the chance doesn't come I've got to take what's given to me," the California native said. "I've been talking to a couple people about the MLS, so hopefully that would be a great place to start my career."
The midfielder said Generation Adidas was a strong option for him if he takes the MLS route, adding that the two sides have spoken but nothing is on the table right now.
With a victory over the UAE on Sunday, Gil and his American teammates advanced in second place from Group E, and now take on Italy in the round of 16 of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Wednesday in Kaduna.
our own national team coaches and assitant coaches get it wrong like mike sorber and thomas rongen on players like subotic & ibisevic. Ibesevic was at St.Louis U and could not see that Ibesevic was a world class striker and keep him here. Mike Sorber should be fired and so should all the coaches in the national Team.This does not happen to any other country except Australia.
— john r
Wednesday November 4, 2009
4:30 pm
I think Mr. Bradley ought to take some of the U20 and U17s with some promise and put them into the rosters of these upcoming friendlies (as the 22 or 23rd man) to lock them into the US system. Gil, being able to go to Mexico, would be a nice one to lock in now before El Tri dangles a similar spot out to him down the road (like Ghana did with Freddy Adu, maybe Fred shoulda taken the spot in WC 2006?)....
This way maybe we won't keep having Subotics and Rossis happening every couple years....
— Scott
Wednesday November 4, 2009
5:17 am
NH Gunner - you forgot Danny Karbassiyoon!!! He wore the red of arsenal too!
— Ed C.
Tuesday November 3, 2009
10:03 pm
If he had options and was that good, he would not consider MLS. He ain't good , period.
— Kizz
Monday November 2, 2009
9:13 pm
dont be a fool, if you have the choice between MLS and Arsenal.. choose Arsenal, they have the best youth and developing system in the world. Wenger does not make many mistakes with his signings
— john
Monday November 2, 2009
6:10 pm
Luis you have too much skill and vision for the MLS. You need to go abroad and get it cultivated, not coached out of you. Holland or Spain would be excellent choices for you and a player of your quality would definitely be picked up. Good luck and all the best.
— Starspangledcannon
Monday November 2, 2009
2:11 pm
Whatever he decides to do. Let him go, get on with it and wait and see what he will produce in his 20s.
Freddy Adu has taught us a lot. Let these kids develop first and wait until their 20s to see what they can contribute.
— paul lorinczi
Monday November 2, 2009
12:36 pm
Interesting that Gil mentions Arsenal. It has been a long time since Frankie Simek left the fold and I've always wondered when Wenger would find another Yank to develop. If Arsenal is interested, Gil must be a very promising lad indeed and should be congratulated just to have appeared on Wenger's radar. That doesn't happen to many!
— NH Gunner
Monday November 2, 2009
12:23 pm
go the Jozy route.. sign with LA Galaxy, play there for 2 years and when he turns 18/19 move to Europe. just enough time to grow up a little, and bring in a transfer fee, not too much time lost in european skill development.
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