re: Question about Gedion Zelalem

Zelalem is very talented and I hope his citizenship stuff goes through. He speaks perfect English with a normal American accent. I think he visits the states every summer.

If he feels America played the most crucial part I'm his soccer development and it's how he identified himself as a player, then he has ever right to represent the u.s.

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Well then he might get DQ'd, if that is the case....they might conclude that he would not fit in.

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What are you talking about? European countries have been importing Africans for ages. 5 players on the roster were not born in the states. But get this, have American fathers.

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If I remember right, the father is but the kid is not.

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If his father obtained his citizenship, Gedion automatically becomes 1 as well due to some Child Act of 2000 or whatever. They were here in May finalizing everything. Ony a matter of time. Pretty much a done deal when he turned down Germany for the U17s.

And his parents are already considered US residents because they lived here from when Gedion was 0 til he was signed by Arsenal, which was when he was 16.. If he would have stayed in the US a few more months, they would have completed their naturalization already and we wouldn't be having this conversation.

And, actually, his parents originally wanted him to play for Ethiopia because that's where they are from. They quickly realized that wasn't happening. The only country Gedion wants to play for is the US. Supposedly he didn't fit in with the Germans when he played with them. Didn't know any of them and all that. Felt out of place.

And he has a lot of friends playing with the US and grew up with them. He considers himself to be American because it's where he grew up and where was molded as an adolescent. If you hear him speak, there isn't a hint of any accent or anything. And his Arsenal coaches and teammates call him an American just by the way he acts and all that... Very calm and relaxed but very confident in what he does.