FC Dallas striker Fabián Castillo has been named to the 30-man preliminary Colombian Under-20s World Cup team camp, MLSsoccer.com learned Wednesday.
Castillo departed for Colombia on Tuesday after participating in a regeneration session with FC Dallas on Monday morning.
“We were just contacted a few days ago that they wanted him to come in for training,” FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman said over the phone Wednesday afternoon. “Hopefully after — probably a three- or four week period — hopefully after that he will be brought on for the U-20 World Cup.”
Hyndman added that Colombia are currently training 30 players and they will submit a roster of 23 by July 12.
The Colombian Under-20s recently won the Toulon Tournament in France, defeating dominant national sides Mexico and France en route to the title.
Despite the tournament win, Hyndman said the Colombian coaching staff realized their need for Castillo afterwards because, “He brings something special that they don’t have.”
FC Dallas assistant coach and former US Under-17 head coach John Ellinger believes Castillo is happy to get back into the Colombian camp after a few months away.
“I think he was excited,” Ellinger said. “I know that the Toulon Tournament that they went to — any youth national team player I’ve had experience with is always thinking about being back with that [national] team, so I’m sure it was crossing his mind — ‘Am I ever going to get called back in again?’ I think he’s probably ecstatic.”
The recently turned 19-year-old has two goals and three assists in 15 appearances for FC Dallas this season.
Castillo uses a combination of speed and skill to trouble defenders and has quickly become one of the top young players in MLS.
“I think that it was a chance for him to gain some confidence here [in the US],which I think he’s done,” said Ellinger. “Hopefully now he can carry it over to Colombia and the Under-20s.”
According to Ellinger, the Colombian Football Federation’s decision to call up Castillo happened very quickly.
“Basically they said: ‘We need him now, we need him on our roster. We don’t know if he’s going to make the camp, but is he available?’” said Ellinger. “The club obviously made the decision to let him go.”
Colombia hosts the U-20 World Cup, which kicks off July 29 and ends August 20.
