Balogun settles in during first camp
Folarin Balogun didn't expect to create a social media storm.
However, with a simple Instagram post and some detailed investigating by U.S. Soccer Twitter, it was apparent that Balogun was in Florida at the same time as the men's national team.
“I posted the picture, and to be fair, I showed it to my agent before I posted to see if it was OK,” he said Friday following U.S. national team training at Dignity Health Sports Park. “From the picture, I couldn't make out that I was in America. When the comments started coming in that I was here (in America), I was overwhelmed.”
Balogun also had pictures taken at an Orlando Magic game and a New York Yankees spring training game.
His trip to Florida also set in motion meetings with then-national team coach Anthony Hudson, which all eventually led to Balogun choosing to represent the U.S. national team.
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“It was a long process, to be honest,” Balogun said of what ended up being like a recruitment period. “I was out in Orlando doing some training, and the (U.S) squad was out there as well for camp. The manager (Hudson) reached out to me and said it would be good to come in and talk with him. I was with my agent as well, so the timing was good.
“We spoke about a lot of things. He just explained the vision for U.S. Soccer and in the end, we had the discussion and I went back home. I had some time to think about what he was saying and I came to my conclusion. This was something I wanted to do, something my family supported. At the end of the day, I went with my heart and with what I thought was best.”
Balogun, 21, choosing the U.S. gives the program the kind of bonafide goal scorer it was missing during the recent World Cup. Balogun, who has born in New York and could have represented England or Nigeria, scored 21 goals for Reims, on loan from Arsenal, in 37 matches in France's Ligue 1 this season.
Balogun was called into his first U.S. senior national team training camp this week, among 24 players picked by new U.S. coach B.J. Callaghan ahead of Thursday's CONCACAF Nations League semifinal in Las Vegas. He could make his national team debut against Mexico, with the winner to face Canada or Panama in the final on June 18.
“Flo is a really talented player that's going to bring a fiery edge to the group. He's a super competitive guy and that fits in well with the people we have in this locker room already,” U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner said. “Again, he's going to be a great addition and creates more competition at that No. 9 (forward) spot and when you have competition like that it elevates everyone else.”