GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Isaac Brizuela is the latest player down in Mexico to confirm he is a US citizen.
The speedy 22-year-old winger has just enjoyed the season of his life with Atlas – where he was on loan from Toluca – and told delapatada.com journalist Julio César Quintanilla that he is facing a difficult choice over which national team to potentially choose.
“It’s where I see more opportunities,” Brizuela told the outlet. “Right now I can’t say which national team because I have doubts, I don’t know which [to choose].”
Brizuela had the best season of his career for Atlas in the Clausura and was a major figure behind the Rojinegros finishing in third position in the Liga MX general table.
Televisa journalist Pedro Antonio Flores reported via Twitter that “Conejito,” as he is widely known, was born in San Jose, Calif., and added the player said U.S. Soccer has been in contact about a possible future call-up.
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Brizuela is listed on the Liga MX website as being from Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, which is around a two-hour drive from Guadalajara.
With both the United States and Mexico set to field alternative squads for Gold Cup – and the competition cap-tying players to one country – it is quite possible Brizuela will be in demand for both countries. His stated goal, unsurpisingly, is to make the 2014 World Cup, even if he if still unsure as to with which national team.
“It’s something else that creates doubts,” admitted Brizuela. “Playing [in a World Cup] opens doors both in your country and abroad.”
Brizuela has previously featured for El Tri in the Pan American Games 2011 in Guadalajara, but missed out on last year’s Olympics.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
