Julian Green has been cleared for another training stint with the US national team, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reported on Tuesday, and has even discussed with coach Jurgen Klinsmann the possibility of playing for the US at this summer's World Cup.
The talented 18-year-old winger with Florida roots is eligible for both Germany and the United States and has spent time in the former country's youth national system.
But Klinsmann has courted him assiduously and those efforts appear to be paying off, as Green learned in the midst of an interview with Wahl that his club, Bayern Munich, has granted him permission to train with the Yanks ahead of their friendly vs. Mexico in Arizona on April 2.
And Klinsmann is so enthralled with his potential that he's willing to consider him for one of the USA's precious roster spots at Brazil 2014.
“Yes, I think so,” said Green of the possibility. “If I can play a World Cup at 18 years old, it would be great, amazing. But I have to train hard.
“The chance is there … I have to play well, and we will see.”
Tongues would wag should Green even make Klinsmann's “long list” for this summer's tournament, given the German-American coach's long-standing emphasis on earning places on the team via consistent minutes in high-level professional environments.
Green is considered one of Bayern's top youth prospects but has only made token appearances with the the European champions' senior team, including a short cameo in UEFA Champions League action in November.
UPDATE: ESPN's Taylor Twellman, who broke the news that Clint Dempsey would come to the Seattle Sounderslast summer, and followed it up this winter by being first to a number of major stories including Michael Bradley's transfer to Toronto FC, reported on his Twitter feed that Green has made up his mind to represent the US, and that U.S. Soccer will make an announcement by the end of the week:
U.S. Soccer did not immediately respond to MLSsoccer.com's request for comment.
