The summer has been eventful for the United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT). Although the results on the field have not been as expected, and off the field either, the questions about the future of some key players seem to have an answer.
Two of the biggest questions surrounding the team in recent seasons were: Would Gio Reyna play professional football again? and Could Matt Turner regain his form? Finally, both players have found new clubs this summer, opening clear paths to get playing time.
Although situations in clubs don’t always reflect performance in the national team, these moves are crucial for the USMNT. The talent of both players is undeniable, and they needed to play to reaffirm their position in the national team.
Recently, the latest call-up from coach Mauricio Pochettino was announced, with an almost even distribution between MLS players and those from European leagues. This raises questions about what factors really influence the coach’s consideration.
Instead of trying to guess Pochettino’s strategy, we will analyze the USMNT player movements, evaluating their impact on each one’s professional career and on the future of the national team.
Players are listed according to their estimated transfer value on Transfermarkt. All transfer data comes from the same source.Johnny Cardoso, 23 years old, midfielderReal Betis to Atlético de Madrid, 24 million eurosRating: AImpact on the player: It’s surprising that this transfer has gone relatively unnoticed. Atlético de Madrid is one of the best teams in the world, with a renowned coach like Diego Simeone. The team has been consistent in LaLiga and signed Cardoso to be a starter at 23 years old.
Cardoso has been a starter in the three matches of the season. It remains to be seen if he can maintain the level in a team with the ambitions of Atlético, but he is undoubtedly taking advantage of a great opportunity.Herculez Gomez analyzes Johnny Cardoso’s transfer to Atletico Madrid, which he considers a turning point in his career.Impact on the USMNT: Cardoso barely played in the Gold Cup, and his performance in the previous friendlies was not the best. If he failed to stand out in what seemed to be a USMNT B or C team, what chances does he have now? If he plays regularly at Atlético, Pochettino will not be able to ignore him. If a player who plays for Atlético Madrid is not in the USMNT plans, someone is making a mistake.Malik Tillman, 23 years old, attacking midfielderPSV to Bayer Leverkusen, 35 million eurosRating: BImpact on the player: Tillman was productive every time he played with PSV, and now faces the challenge of maintaining that level in a more demanding league. Leverkusen is a top team, and Tillman replaces Wirtz, who left for Liverpool. However, the recent dismissal of the Leverkusen coach adds uncertainty to this transfer.USMNT’s Tillman expresses mixed feelings about his signing with Leverkusen.Impact for the USMNT: There is a possibility that Tillman will not have many minutes this season. However, being the most expensive signing of the team, he is expected to have opportunities. If he doesn’t play, that will say more about his quality as a player.Yunus Musah, 22 years old, midfielderMilan to Atalanta, 4 million euros (loan)Grade: B-Impact for the player: Musah arrives at Atalanta at a time of change, after the departure of their coach. Atalanta is a club with innovative ideas, and Musah could have many opportunities to play. The agreement includes a purchase option, which could favor his participation.Yunus Musah explains his absence from the Gold Cup.Impact on USMNT: The situation at Milan was unstable, and Atalanta could be a better option for Musah. He is likely to have a standout season in Bergamo.Timothy Weah, 25 years old, wingerJuventus to Marseille, loan, 1 million eurosRating: CImpact on the player: Although he descends in league quality, Weah should have more minutes in his preferred position. At Juventus, he played as a full-back. At Marseille, he has played in different positions, which could hinder his adaptation. He needs to prove that he can be a solid starter in an important European league.
The atmosphere in Marseille seems toxic, which could affect their performance. In a World Cup year, their playing time will depend on the club’s stability.Impact for the USMNT: It’s positive that Weah has the opportunity to play minutes, even on the wing, at a Champions League club.Paxten Aaronson, 21 years old, attacking midfielderEintracht Frankfurt to Colorado Rapids, 7 million eurosRating: CImpact for the player: He will have more minutes and a good salary in MLS. If he stands out in MLS, he could still return to Europe. If not, he probably would not have succeeded in Europe.Impact for the USMNT: It doesn’t seem like this transfer will have a big impact on his USMNT call-up.Giovanni Reyna, 22 years old, attacking midfielderBorussia Dortmund to Borussia Monchengladbach, 4 million eurosGrade: B-Impact on the player: Reyna was one of the biggest promises in world football. He needed to play in a competitive place. Gladbach is a good option to revive his career.Gio Reyna responds to his absence from the USMNT call-up.Impact on USMNT: It’s positive. If he plays this season, he will be in the selection and will probably be a starter next summer. If not, who knows when we will see him again with the United States jersey.Patrick Agyemang, 24 years old, forwardCharlotte FC to Derby County, 6.9 million eurosGrade: B-Impact on the player: He will have the opportunity to fight in the Championship. He is currently injured. He could have a good salary and prove himself at a higher level. However, Derby is not a stable club. Agyemang could be playing in League One in less than a year. It is an opportunity to prove his worth.Shaka Hislop analyzes Patrick Agyemang’s transfer to Derby County.Impact for the USMNT: The injury generates uncertainty. Pochettino could consider Agyemang as the starting forward for the USMNT. The move to Derby could limit his playing time.Matt Turner, 31 years old, goalkeeperLyon to New England Revolution, loanGrade: C+Impact on the player: This likely marks the end of his career in Europe. Turner only played 17 matches in three seasons in England. In those matches, he conceded more goals than expected. Now he returns to MLS.Impact for the USMNT: They will be able to see if Turner remains the best American goalkeeper. He has already played four games in the league with the Revolution.
Damion Downs, 21 years old, forward
FC Koln to Southampton, 8 million eurosRating: BImpact on the player: Downs moves from the first to the second division, but will probably have a better salary at Southampton. He joins a club that gives minutes to young players. He plays for a coach who helped Folarin Balogun have an outstanding season. Koln and Southampton are at a similar level.Impact for the USMNT: There isn’t much difference between the club situations. Pochettino seems to appreciate him; Downs was recently called up. He is unlikely to be a significant contributor next summer, but Southampton is a good place for his long-term development.
