AMSTERDAM – The agent for AZ Alkmaar forward Aron Jóhannsson has offered some hope to US national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann, saying it's no certainty that his client will suit up internationally for Iceland.
The 22-year-old was set to accept a World Cup qualifying call from Iceland while with AGF Aarhus last October, only to have it canceled by a groin injury. More recently, AZ teammate Jozy Altidore told The Best Soccer Show he thought Jóhannsson was “leaning more towards Iceland.”
However, Klinsmann hinted last week that the Alabama-born hitman was in line for a summer call-up, pushing open discussion of which national team shirt he will eventually wear.
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"He's always considered [playing for] the United States," Jóhannsson's agent, Magnus Agnar Magnusson, told MLSsoccer.com. "He doesn't have to make up his mind until one of the teams calls him."
While Klinsmann did not name the striker to his latest US roster, the coach could summon him for July's CONCACAF Gold Cup, a cap-tying event.
"Another player we have a very close eye on is Aron Jóhannsson," Klinsmann said in a statement following last week's squad release. "We want to have him with us in the near future."
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Meanwhile, Iceland will have just one competitive match this summer, a June 7 World Cup qualifying visit from Slovenia. The team currently sits second in Group E, two points shy of the top in the playoff spot.
While still with AGF, Jóhannsson played eight UEFA Under-21 Championship contests for Iceland. This past season, he scored 17 goals in 26 club matches, including three in six games for AZ.
