BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Sean Johnson isn’t the only Chicago Fire player that might be training with a foreign club this offseason.
Forward Orr Barouch will reportedly train with Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Haifa for a few days this winter following his current stint with the Israeli U-21 national team, according to an Israeli news outlet.
WATCH: Barouch scores on the counter
Fire head coach Frank Klopas gave credence to that report on Wednesday, telling MLSsoccer.com that the on-loan striker might train with the IPL champions.
“He got called in to the national team and I think since he’s been there the opportunity to train [at Maccabi Haifa] has come up,” Klopas said. “But it hasn’t been finalized yet.”
Barouch, who was born in Haifa and moved to Southern California as a child, is on loan to the Fire until the end of the year from Mexican club Tigres UANL. He made 28 league appearances and scored two goals this season for Chicago, who have an option to buy him from the Monterrey-based club this offseason.
“That’s all stuff we’re talking about now,” Klopas said when asked if the Fire is interested in bringing Barouch back. “He is on a loan so those are always tricky because you have to see the situation with Tigres. He’s a young player and I think he’s shown promise. I think it’s a situation where we have to deal with Tigres and work out the loan situation.”
Johnson, meanwhile, could spend a few days training at Manchester United following next week’s completion of the US U-23 national team camp.
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com.Email him at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com
