GUADALAJARA, Mexico – As one of the stars for the United States in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, not making the US Under-20 national teal squad for this month’s World Cup in Turkey has been a bitter pill for Club Tijuana’s Alejandro Guido to swallow.
“I’m very disappointed because out of my performances with the [Tijuana] U-20s, I should have been called in,” Guido told MLSsoccer.com recently. “It all depends on the coach, you know?”
Guido was last called up by US U-20 boss Tab Ramos for a camp in Puebla in January and hasn’t heard a thing since, despite regularly captaining Xolos’ U-20s last season.
READ: US U-20s close Toulon with another loss, raising questions ahead of WCup
Mexico national team coaches have circled, but there has been no firm approach and Guido wasn’t a shock announcement to El Tri’s squad.
That means the young Chula Vista, Calif., native – who grew up on both sides of the border – has a summer free to prepare for next season, when he’s hoping for more opportunities in Tijuana’s first team, especially in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Guido has witnessed Xolos' expansion in scouting into Southern California firsthand and believes that the bond between the club and the Southwest United States is only set to grow.
READ: Puebla president says 50 percent chance DaMarcus Beasley stays with club
“I think a lot of Californians are coming over and asking for tryouts,” stated Guido. “A lot of scouts from Xolos are going out there – to parts all over California to recruit players.”
One of those was Club Tijuana’s new American youth signing Paul Arriola, whom Guido gave advice when he was deciding whether to sign for the LA Galaxy or Tijuana.
“I told him I loved it here,” said Guido. “I told him about my experience, what it is like living here, my daily routine, my plans according to the institution.”
READ: Paul Arriola explains difficult decision to choose Club Tijuana over LA Galaxy
Part of Guido’s daily routine is crossing the border every day from the United States to train in Mexico, something he has gotten used to in his year at the club.
The next stage is getting more minutes in that Tijuana first team, alongside fellow Americans Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona and new signing Herculez Gomez.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. Contact him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
