New England Soccer Today

Fagundez Makes Cut for Uruguay U-20s Ahead of Tourney

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

It appears that any dreams of Diego Fagundez donning a U.S. Men’s National Team kit will have to remain a fantasy.

The Revolution midfielder is one step closer to permanently tying himself to his native Uruguay after he made the final 23-man roster for the program’s U-20 squad, which will compete at this month’s South American Youth Championship. The tournament will run from Jan. 14 through Feb. 7.

Should Fagundez appear for the Uruguay U-20s during the tournament, he would not longer be eligible for play for the U.S. since he has not yet been granted citizenship. The Revolution Homegrown Player has lived in Massachusetts since he was five-years-old, but only acquired his green card last year.

Fagundez was invited to U-20 coach Fabio Coito’s camp last month, and made the most of the opportunity. He scored two goals and added two assists during a series of scrimmages against local clubs in Montevideo.

Last month, Fagundez told ESPNFC.com that his future with the U.S. program was cloudy at best given that he’d have to wait until 2018 to attain full U.S. citizenship.

“They haven’t even approached me, and it looks like they’re not interested in me,” Fagundez said. “I can’t keep waiting for them. I’ll see where this takes me. That’s why I’m going to Uruguay, I want to go there and represent the jersey and represent the country well.”

The Uruguay U-20s will kick off its tournament run on Jan. 15 against Colombia. They will also face Brazil (Jan. 17), Chile (Jan. 21), and Venezuela (Jan. 23) during the Group stage.

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