ASN: Revs teenager Bajraktarevic pushing for USMNT debut and Olympic spot

Esmir Bajraktarevic is the youngest participant within the present USMNT camp and has featured within the first two U-23 camps within the lead as much as the Olympics. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta has spoken with the Wisconsin-born teenager about his camp, the New England Revolution modifications, and his future targets. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 19, 2024
1:05 PM

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THE USMNT January camp is commonly a time to provide younger gamers a possibility and for this system to construct depth. However 2024 is an Olympic 12 months and getting younger gamers concerned turns into particularly essential. On the present roster, Esmir Bajraktarevic stands out as a result of he’s the group’s youngest participant who just isn’t solely eligible for the Olympics this summer season, however he’s additionally eligible for the U-20 World Cup in 2025, and the U.S. U-23 Olympic group in 2028 as properly.

Bajraktarevic, 18, has been rated extremely by U.S. youth coaches for a number of years. Whereas he didn’t make the U-20 World Cup group final summer season, he was concerned with the group all through the cycle whereas enjoying up an age group. He would then go on to thrive with the U.S. U-19 group. In October and November, Bajraktarevic was concerned with the primary two U-23 Olympic camps enjoying up a cycle. Within the U.S. U-23 group’s first pleasant, Bajraktarevic scored a beautiful purpose in a 2-1 victory over Mexico.

With U.S. U-23 head coach Marko Mitrovic on Gregg Berhalter’s employees for January camp, it wasn’t shocking to see Bajraktarevic get call-up.

“Everybody kind of looks at that – being the youngest guy,” Bajraktarevic advised American Soccer Now from January camp. “But talking to Gregg and Marko, they’ve been telling me this – if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. I try not to really think about my age that much. I still have a lot of growing to do, but I think that I can compete no matter what. It doesn’t matter how young I am.”

However similar to the U-23 group, Bajraktarevic is profiting from his possibilities this camp and final weekend he was one of many purpose scorers in a 2-2 pleasant draw with River Plate. Naturally a left footer, Bajraktarevic has been enjoying on the correct wing the place he can successfully reduce centrally. Within the purpose in opposition to River Plate, he received behind the backline with a through-ball and beat the keeper along with his proper foot.

“Obviously, River plate is a very big club,” Bajraktarevic stated. “A lot of great players have come from River Plate. So, I think it was good. And they’re obviously a very physical team. The Argentinian league is like that. I think it was a good test for us. I think it was a really good experience.”

Camp will conclude on Saturday with a pleasant in opposition to Slovenia and Bajraktarevic will hope to earn his first cap within the sport. However general, the expertise has been a constructive one for Bajraktarevic.

“It’s been going really well so far,” Bajraktarevic stated. “The group is really coming together well. The coaching staff have been doing a really good job guiding me and giving me feedback. It’s been good so far. It’s been good playing around players who are at a high level and everything. It’s been making me better. Obviously, we’re all here, they’re all very good players and they’re all really nice guys.”

However Bajraktarevic has additionally made a constructive impression on his USMNT teammates as properly.

“This is the first time I got to meet him and play with him,” stated veteran USMNT defender Miles Robinson. “He’s a great player, very dynamic. He likes to get forward. He’s also mature and seems wise beyond his years.”

“I’ve really enjoyed seeing Esmir play up close,” added ahead Brian White. “His dribbling is actually really fun to watch. I can see he’s got a really bright future. It’s been awesome watching him up close and personal.”

The 18-year-old child! ????

What a solution to rating your first #NERevs purpose Esmir Bajraktarevi?.

An equalizer in opposition to Membership Querétaro within the 78th minute. pic.twitter.com/YoFmXwK1wT

— Main League Soccer (@MLS) August 8, 2023

Earlier this month, the Revolution introduced Caleb Porter as the brand new head coach and Porter arrives having gained MLS Cup with the Portland Timbers and the Columbus Crew. For Bajraktarevic, he is aware of that a lot of his future relies on him succeeding in New England.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about him,” Bajraktarevic stated. “He gave me a call a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to meet him in person yet because obviously I went straight to camp from off season. But I’m really looking forward to getting back to the club and preseason and I’ve heard a lot of good things about him, especially from players that played at the clubs he used to be at. I’m excited for the next season.”

After all, internationally, the short-term purpose for Bajraktarevic is his push to make the Olympic group this summer season. Even with him being eligible for the U-20 World Cup and the next Olympics, Bajraktarevic says he’s centered on the brief time period to “avoid being so overwhelmed.” However the 2024 Olympics stay a definite chance given his involvement the primary two camps and now January camp.

U-23’s beating Mexico 1-0 with a purpose from Esmir Bajraktarevic! ???????? pic.twitter.com/UVWtAoKPUE

— AO (@AmericanOutlaws) October 12, 2023

“Obviously the Olympics are a huge thing,” Bajraktarevic stated. “So many people watch it. It’s a big platform. I was very I’m very happy to be a part of that group for the last two camps… I think we can go very far. I think we have a really good group. Obviously, the style, as we can see from the games against Mexico and Japan, Iraq and Morocco, I think it was the four friendlies that we had. You can tell that we like to play a very, very attacking style. We like to play forward. Marko encourages, especially players like me, to be creative and to let loose and play our game.”

“Marko’s a great coach. I like the style that he likes to play with. With the U-23s. I, I really enjoy it. Obviously, kind of coming from the same background – he’s Serbian, I’m Bosnian and so I can kind of understand the mindset and everything that he has. I enjoy playing under him a lot. He’s a great coach, great person.”

For Bajraktarevic, one other huge query for his worldwide future is whether or not he’ll characterize america or Bosnia and he does have choices. Along with enjoying for the U.S. U-23, U.S. U-20, and even probably the USMNT this weekend, he’s additionally on the radar for Bosnia’s U-21 group.

He’s ours and can quickly make his debut for the U21s https://t.co/E2nDRNHWRP

— Bosniaco???????? (@BiHFooty) August 8, 2023

Bajraktarevic was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and his mother and father moved there throughout amid the Bosnian battle and the breakup of Yugoslavia. However his and his household’s ties to Bosnia are robust and he’s nonetheless unsure the place his future will likely be.

“I haven’t made my final decision yet on who I want to play for,” Bajraktarevic stated. “I’m obviously still young. I want to keep my options open. But right now, I’m just focused on this camp and focused on playing with the U.S right now. But no final decision has been made for who I want to play for.”

For now, Bajraktarevic is enjoying for america and his experiences with the USMNT at this camp and the U.S. U-23 group have been constructive. Forward of Saturday’s sport in opposition to Slovenia, Berhalter acknowledged that Bajraktarevic has had an excellent first camp and was not misplaced within the second regardless of being the youngest participant in camp.

“In terms of Esmir, the coaching staff has been really impressed with him,” Berhalter stated. “We’re impressed with his skillset. He’s 18 years old, but he’s got a strong mentality, very competitive, very aggressive on the ball, willing to do the work defensively, and had just really coped well with the environment. You would think that a young player, 18 years old, comes in shy and is afraid to impose himself on the field. But it is the exact opposite with Esmir. He’s got a great future ahead of him.”