Lto from Yunus Musah is a history worthy to make it public hours before this World Cup in Qatar starts. Because this young footballer of barely 19 yearsand who has been in the elite for three seasons, will formalize his debut in a World Cup with the shirt of… United States!. But the Valencia player is a true globetrotter. because it has born by chance in one country, his parents are from another and he has lived his childhood and youth in two other countries plus. Come on, that was a bargain for any of their federations! For points.
Yunus speaks with MARCA hours before the big event starts of world football. “I was born in New York, although later I have lived in several countries During my life. I have been lucky enough to know these different cultures and even more than their national teams would be interested in competing with them. It was a difficult decision.”
I have been lucky enough to get to know these different cultures and even more so that their national teams were interested in me competing with them. It was a difficult decision
You are right, was born on November 29, 2002 in… New York. almost by surprise. His parents, of nationality Ghanaian, they moved to the United States and the coincidence of life is that Yunus came to the world in the ‘city that never sleeps’. Therefore, he already obtained US citizenship. his years of childhood spent in Italy. In a city called Castelfranco Veneto where he began to play with the ball and show that there was something more than leisure in his legs. That allowed him to start playing this game called football.
DESTINY CROSSES HIM WITH A USA-ENGLAND
WHAT FEELINGS DOES IT LEAVE YOU? I COULD HAVE PLAYED IT IN REVERSE…
“It will certainly be very special, a closely contested match and that on an emotional level it will mean many things. England has given me a lot as a person and as a footballer and also I proudly defended his shirt in the lower categories. I wish them good luck in the World Cup as well, although obviously we want to win the match.”
His years in Italy also allowed him to count on italian passport as it has an appointed day a family friend suggested that he make the leap to the British Isles. Begin the Anglo-Saxon adventure. Going to a school, possibly the one that treats young people the most and best in England, such as Arsenal. He was barely ten years old and he launched into the daring adventure in london. And he began to stand out to the point that he was called up by the youth ranks of England. He was a diamond in the rough. He stood out in the Gunners and in the selection. He was one of the standouts…and fixtures. But suddenly Pablo Longoria appeared. and the Valencia. “Why did he bet on Valencia? Because of his Latin character, he spoke Italian, he knew the culture…”, Longoria told MARCApresident of Marseille and before Valencia’s technical secretary, which was when he recruited him.
If at 16 he was ready to play in the Champions League -Marcelino was going to make him debut in 2019-20- at 19 for 20 years he is ready to play a World Cup
The phrase that most impacts is that of the current president of Marseille who took him to Valencia. Past, present and future. He knows him very well. “If at 16 he was ready to play in the Champions League -Marcelino was going to make him debut in 2019-20- at 19 for 20 years he is ready to play a World Cup”.
And the day of truth arrived… by Longoria’s vision. “I had been following him since Juve, he also had an Italian passport but it was at Valencia when I was able to bring him. His talent and his physique were going to make him reach the highest level”. And he took it to Valencia. He was barely 16 years old. A great bet. Before coming of age he made his debut in First Division. And from there the battle broke out. England vs. USA.
HE PLAYED IN THE LOWER TEAMS OF ENGLAND AND THE ‘CONFLICT’ ARRIVED
WILL YOU BE MEASURED WITH YOUR FRIENDS FROM THE ENGLISH TEAM WITH WHOM YOU PLAYED IN THE SUB?
“Yes, I will agree with Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham With whom I have a very good relationship. will be without a doubt very special to have in front of colleagues and friends with whom I have played, but each one of us will seek to take the victory”
That pulse the latter took it away. First, for the project that was presented to him and secondly for a personal matter. yunus could exploit his brand much more as a player from the USA than from England. And he chose to debut in an official match with the Americans. Until today. “They told me that there was a boy at the Valencia school, with good conditions that he was born in New York. He had an American passport! We started talking to him and convinced him to try with the national team in some friendlies”, highlights Nico Estévez, assistant of the USA team who answered the call from MARCA. “She liked the environment but she asked us for time. Two months and she said yes.”
In fact Yunus confirms everything said by Estévez. “The project that the USA team offered me, how the coach explained to me what they wanted from me and the connection with the values of the country and the potential of their team made me opt for the United States“.
“I am proud to be able to represent the citizens of the USA and wear their jersey and I hope to help give them great joy and contribute to the growth of soccer in the country,” he adds.
We started talking to him and we convinced him to try out for the national team in friendlies. He liked the atmosphere but he asked us for time. Two months and he said yes
The four ‘nationalities’ of Yunus
The World Cup in Qatar is coming up and Yunus will defend the colors of the USA. having been able to choose up to four teams to be an international footballer. The American by birth, the Ghanaian by family relationship; the Italian for his long childhood stay or the English, the country where he lived for many years, and he was selected by the British lower categories. There will be no other player with so many ‘multinationalities’ in this World Cup. The fact is that he decided on the US and today he opens with the team he wants and feels: his first rival will be wales. And then they will arrive Iran and curiously, because fate has wanted it to be so against England.
YUNUS’ FIRST GREAT TOP CHALLENGE WITH USA
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THIS WORLD CUP WITH THE UNITED STATES?
“I hope that we can excite the people of our country, I hope that this group of players can go as far as possible without setting limits. We know how difficult it is to play in the most important national team competition in the world, but let’s go without fear to defend our country and that the world can enjoy our football. On a personal level I also hope that, Although I am very young, to be able to take a step forward in my career and that the fans of the USA and those of my club, Valencia, feel proud of my participation in this World Cup”
Yunus Musah: from being selectable by Ghana, Italy or England… to going with the US to Qatar