Whereas many American soccer stars are turning their backs on Europe, Juan Agudelo is set to succeed on soccer’s greatest stage. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke to the 21-year-old about his ambition.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
February 13, 2014
3:21 PM
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THE THOUGHT OF JUAN AGUDELO should carry a smile to Jurgen Klinsmann’s face.
In an period the place many prime American gamers are getting back from Europe to play in MLS (Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu), or resisting alternatives overseas to play in a extra snug setting (Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Graham Zusi), Juan Agudelo is one thing of an outlier. He’s dedicated to taking part in in Europe and decided to compete on the highest-possible degree.
And with a aim and an help in his first three video games for his new membership, FC Utrecht, the 21-year-old striker is off to a flying begin.
“I’m happy,” Agudelo informed American Soccer Now. “I actually take pleasure in taking part in European soccer. Ever since I used to be a little bit child I might look as much as the gamers I noticed on TV they usually have been all the time those taking part in in Europe. I informed my Mother that I might play in Europe at some point, and ever since then it has been my aim.”
“That’s the place one of the best gamers proper now and that’s the place I need to take a look at myself.”
Agudelo signed a pre-contract with Stoke Metropolis final summer time however his attraction for a British work allow was denied and he was compelled to go on mortgage. Ultimately he agreed to affix Utrecht for the remained of the season till he could make one other try for a piece allow to affix Stoke.
In his first begin, Agudelo assisted on the equalizing aim towards perennial Dutch powers Ajax. Within the following sport, he scored a marvel aim towards PEC Zwolle when he turned previous his defender and unleashed a robust shot that rippled the highest of the web.
“It was special since it was my first European goal,” he mentioned. “Most significantly, I need to assist the group win. As soon as the group believes that I’m serving to them win, we construct extra chemistry.”
Born in Colombia however raised in New Jersey, Agudelo arrived at Utrecht with excessive expectations. One of many prime younger American forwards within the sport, Agudelo scored in his first look with the US nationwide group—a strike towards South Africa a number of days earlier than his 18th birthday. In MLS he has confirmed glimpses of his expertise, however he was caught behind Thierry Henry in New York after which went to a dysfunctional Chivas USA group after that. The striker flourished throughout his time with the New England Revolution final season, serving to the group attain the postseason for the primary time since 2009.
Trying again at his time in MLS, he appreciates what the league did for him by way of growth and alternative, however he’s adamant that the transfer to Europe is a step up.
“MLS helped me and gave me more of an understanding of what professionalism is in a soccer aspect,” Agudelo mentioned. “It made me develop up, mature, learn to deal with issues, and perceive steps that it takes to be a very good professional. I attempted to do my greatest to soak up all that data and switch it to Europe.”
“I feel that the technique here is better,” he continued. “There are very athletic gamers in MLS but it surely lacks a little bit little bit of approach whereas in Holland the gamers’ approach is nice. I’m excited as a result of it’s a league that creates quite a bit probabilities. It’s eye-opening for me.”
Agudelo’s eyes additionally grew a bit wider final November when he discovered that his UK work allow attraction was denied, which means that he could not play for Stoke Metropolis instantly. Each he and the membership stay hopeful that the following try might be profitable, and his strong outings at Utrecht are so up to now bolstering his resume.
“We were surprised and bitterly disappointed when our application for a work permit was rejected by the appeals panel—as were many other people in the game,” Stoke Metropolis chief govt Tony Scholes mentioned. “It’s still our view that Juan is a great talent and is a player that Mark Hughes would like to join our squad. We have therefore decided that we are going to reapply for a work permit at the earliest opportunity.”
Agudelo, for his half, mentioned he isn’t nervous concerning the work allow course of as a result of if he continues to play effectively at Utrecht, there’ll all the time be choices for him.
As as to whether his work allow rejection was a blessing in disguise because it has given him an introduction to Europe within the offensive-minded Eredivisie as an alternative of the Premier League, Agudelo is reluctant to say. However he does admit that the Netherlands has been a really perfect start line.
“Possibly this truly was a greater path that God has paved for me,” he said. Maybe it’s better to arrive “originally of a season, have a preseason with them, after which begin off working.”
“[The Premier League] is definitely going to be more physical than in Holland. I understand that but I’m a pretty big boy so I think I can help myself with that. It’s different with the mentality of how European soccer is thought of here. It’s good that I’m getting used to that here before I go to an even bigger stage where the stadiums are sold out in England all the time.”
Utrecht can also be fairly happy with the addition of Agudelo. Although the American will solely be on the membership for a restricted time period, he has given the group a lift and has emerged as a starter virtually instantly.
“He is an all-round attacker with enormous quality,” mentioned FC Utrecht head of scouting Edwin de Kruijff. “He is technically proficient, has a huge craving for the [game], can manage well with a man at his back, and is also fairly quick.”
The profession path that’s now in entrance of Agudelo is much like that of his good friend, Jozy Altidore, who additionally started his profession with the New York Crimson Bulls and left for Europe at an early age. Altidore, after all, soared to new heights within the Eredivisie and set an American document for objectives in Europe, scoring 31 objectives in all competitions with AZ Alkmaar. Altidore then parlayed that efficiency right into a high-cost switch to Sunderland within the Premier League.
When Agudelo’s work allow software was denied, he spoke to Altidore about his subsequent step. Altidore’s suggestion—go to the Eredivisie— carried a number of weight, and so did Altidore’s recommendation concerning the variations between the Dutch prime flight and the EPL.
“He has definitely been a good mentor for me because he’s played in these leagues,” Agudelo defined. “He said Holland would be a good match for me and thought I would do well here and I just have to be careful when I go onto maybe the Premier League. I have to be ready and the team has to be right for me. He was actually a big part of my decision as to why I came to Holland.”
With Agudelo’s robust begin within the Eredivisie, there may be additionally rising momentum that he may make a push to make the World Cup group this summer time. Agudelo has earned 17 caps since his first look in 2010, however he has solely earned two appearances within the final two calendar years. Virtually all of his caps got here when he was a young person.
Competitors is presently very tight on the U.S. group within the ahead place. Altidore and Aron Johannsson are locks to be on the airplane to Brazil. After that, Eddie Johnson has additionally been an vital ahead in World Cup qualifying.
Agudelo spoke with Klinsmann in latest months and he believes there may be nonetheless an opportunity to make the group in Brazil if he continues to excel within the Eredivisie.
“The World Cup means everything to me right now,” Agudelo mentioned. “Maybe the World Cup means more than the work permit in my mind right now. I’ve spoken to Jurgen about options I had before I made my decision and then I told him the decision I was going to make. He wished me the best and told me to keep working hard and we’ll see what happens.”
Subsequent up for Agudelo might be one of many marquee match-ups of the Eredivisie season—at the least for American soccer followers. On Saturday Agudelo and Utrecht will go to AZ Alkmaar, which options Johannsson, presently on 21 objectives this marketing campaign.
The sport will characteristic two of the highest younger American aim scorers in Europe and Agudelo is wanting ahead to dealing with off towards him.
“We actually ran into each other in Amsterdam at a restaurant and started talking,” Agudelo mentioned of Johannsson. “It was crazy. We exchanged phone numbers. He’s really nice. It’s all competitive. We both know we play the same position. We’re just going to do our thing. It’s always going to be like that but the friendship aspect, it’s always there.”
As for the massive sport on Saturday?
“It’s going to be fun.”
What do you consider Agudelo’s transfer to the Netherlands/England? Suppose he has a shot on the World Cup roster? Give us your take beneath.
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Observe him on Twitter.
