Chicago Fire FC Goalie Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina committed its international future to WEplayer announced on his social media on Friday.
Slonina, 18, was drawn into a tug-of-war between the United States, where he was born, and Poland his parents’ hometown. Slonina has represented the United States starting at the U-15 level all the way up to the U-20 level. He has also been called up to the USA camp twice in the past seven months, though has not yet been confined to the senior level.
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Poland’s manager Czeslaw Michniewicz presented Slonina with a Poland jersey on Fire’s recent US Open Cup day, and this week also called him up for UEFA matches. Nations League against Poland Belgiumthe Netherlands and Wales in June. But now Slonina has chosen to represent the United States
– GAGA (@GabrielSlonina) May 20, 2022
The decision is not completely binding. FIFA’s rules allow players to switch their international allegiances if they’ve played less than four games – excluding appearances in World Cup finals or continental tournament finals – and all of this happens before the player turns 21. But Slonina doesn’t seem definitive in declaring his intention to play for America if the opportunity permits. While he said he’s “very proud of my roots and heritage,” he also said “his heart is American.”
“This country has given me and my family all the opportunities I could ask for. It has motivated me and supported me through both the good and the bad. I understand the privilege of wearing the badge. and the only time I bent my head was to kiss it. America is home and that’s who I will represent.”
Slonina was not on the USMNT roster for the June friendlies and Nations League games announced Friday. And, although head coach Gregg Berhalter cited the player’s recent slip in a Chicago shirt, he expressed delight at Slonina’s long-term commitment.
“I just had a really open conversation with him, and that’s all we can really do,” Berhalter said in a media session present Friday. “I talked to him about where we met him.
“His response has been great. He understands where he is. He will work to get out of his position. But he said he remains committed to us and that’s all that is about. you can hear. You create relationships with the players, you welcome the players to join the group, the boys make them feel welcome. And you hope that’s enough for them to decide at the end of the day. . But in Gaga’s case, his heart is also telling him where to go and that’s a really important part of the equation.”
Slonina was signed to his academy by Fire in 2019 when he was just 14 years old. He made his professional debut last August in a match against NYCFC, becoming the youngest starting goalkeeper in league history at 17 years and 81 days. He has made 23 league appearances with nine clean sheets.
