Young New England Revolution’s midfield/forward was called up to by Uruguay under 20 team for 2 friendlies next week.   This coming Monday 8/4 and Wednesday 8/6 the Uruguay u-20 team will play two friendlies vs Peru.    In 2012 he spent a week with the U-20 Uruguay squad in camp.

Diego was born in Uruguay before his family moved to Massachusetts when he was five.  This doesn’t mean that Diego is no longer eligible to represent the USA.   In fact he has said in the past he wants to represent the United States, but he is not a USA citizen yet.    He did gain permanent citizen status last fall, and is trying to gain his citizenship, so that he can switch eligibility from Uruguay to USA.  It is estimated that this process could take as long as 2018, where he will be 23 and may have to decide between the two countries before then.

 

My opinion:

Think most people would agree that this is good, not just for the Revs but also MLS. When young foreign based players can get call ups like Diego has, shows some of the quality of players playing here in MLS.   At the end I hope that Diego will choose USA over Uruguay, but that is up to him.   If Uruguay calls Diego for the senior team in next summers Copa America, or the 2016 Copa America Centenario, does he accept or deny?   Think most people would say he is too young at 20 or 21 and wont get a call up from the senior team. But, that will also be very hard I must imagine for Diego to deny and hold out for a USA call up when he is eligible. Only in time will we get our answer.