Alright, US national team fans, you can calm down: Nick DeLeon is not suiting up for Trinidad and Tobago. At least not yet.
The D.C. United attacker told The Washington Post's Steven Goff on Monday that he has declined a call-up to represent his father's homeland for the Soca Warriors' friendly against Peru on Feb. 6. But he didn't completely close the door on doing so in the future, either.
“I grew up here and it’s always been my dream to play here,” the Phoenix native told Goff. “It felt pretty good to get invited, to be honest. It’s a big honor. But I don’t think it’s the right time.”
DeLeon's father, Leroy, is a native of Trinidad and a former T&T international. The younger DeLeon was also invited into camp last spring when T&T were preparing for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying, but he declined the invitation then as well.
But the 2012 MLS Rookie of the Year runner-up is honest about his feelings in not being among the roster called up by Jurgen Klinsmann for January USMNT camp.
“It was upsetting," he continued. "It didn’t feel good. A lot of people have told me they thought I should have gotten called up. … I’m using this [MLS] season to show them what I can do and force them to make a decision.”
He may be forced to make his own decision soon: Both the US and T&T are participating in this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
