USMNT news: Balogun switches, Pulisic to Napoli, Henry next head coach

Today’s USMNT news includes a decision that Stars and Stripes fans have been hoping for — Folarin Balogun has made the switch from England to represent the USA. Also, Christian Pulisic has been linked with Napoli and Thierry Henry has been suggested to be the next head coach of the USMNT. 

USMNT news: Folarin Balogun to represent the USA

American soccer supporters have been overjoyed with the announcement that Folarin Balogun has decided to represent the USMNT. Balogun has been heavily courted by U.S. Soccer since he was left out of England’s last squad. He then dropped out of the Three Lions’ U21 side, after he was still not called up to the senior side when Marcus Rashford got injured.

Balogun who is on loan at Reims from Arsenal, was then seen in Orlando, which is where the USMNT were training. Anthony Hudson’s side spoke to him and the player has now made his decision to give up on playing for England and be the main man for the USA.

Speaking to U.S. Soccer, Balogun said “To represent the United States means a lot, more than people would know. I’m very proud and honored to have this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful.”

It remains to be seen whether this is the right decision from Balogun. It does seem quite rash to switch international allegiance after not making one England squad. He will instantly become a starter for the USMNT but with a bit more patience then he could have represented the country he grew up in and played for up until the U21 level.

USMNT news: Christian Pulisic to Napoli

The Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, has revealed that he wants to sign an American player. The club have already been linked with Utrecht’s Taylor Booth but they are also interested in Christian Pulisic of Chelsea.

According to the Daily Mail “Chelsea could yet look to use the 24-year-old in swap deals with the likes of Victor Osimhen among their targets.” The Blues tried to use Pulisic as part of a package to sign Rafael Leao last summer from AC Milan.

Pulisic will have a lot of suitors at the end of this season, with rumors of moves to Atletico Madrid, Milan and Juventus also circulating. Joining Napoli just because they want an American on their roster may not be the best move.

USMNT news: Thierry Henry urged to join the USA

Thierry Henry has been linked with the vacant USMNT head coach position in the past. He reportedly turned down the becoming the France women’s team manager to hold out for the USA job.

Following the news that Folarin Balogun has joined the USMNT, Jamie Carragher, speaking on CBS Sports urged that Thierry Henry should be their next head coach. The former England player gestured to Henry saying “Vacant manager, an Arsenal player you know well…”

Henry remained tight-lipped but the former New York Red Bulls player and CF Montreal head coach has expressed his desire for the USMNT job before.