EURO DREAMIN’- SHOULD ELITE YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS TRAIN IN EUROPE?

IS THE TRAINING BETTER FOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE OR IS IT BETTER TO STAY WITH AN ELITE CLUB IN THE USA?
https://www.soccertoday.com/euro-dreamin-should-elite-youth-soccer-players-train-in-europe/

"It’s no secret that nowadays Europe is the best place for young players to increase their level and increase their chances of playing at a professional level.

This is obviously tied to that player being exposed to the adequate methodology before the age of 15-16, where said player now grasps the universal concepts and understands soccer as a language, as well as being exposed to countless hours of play time with the ball.

In order for any player to reach their full potential, they need a highly competitive level.

This is what the USA is currently lacking since the competitiveness at academy level (U.S. Soccer Development Academy commonly referred to as the DA) is below that of Europe.

There is also a regulatory brick wall.

FIFA states that players must play in their home country until the age of 18. There are some exceptions to the rule, such as players with an EU passport are allowed to play in any EU member country when they reach 16 years of age but the chances for a US player to go to Europe before 18 is very difficult. Few have the passport needed.

So if you had a Son or Daughter wanted to Seriously considering a move aboard for school & soccer because they feels their at the critical learning phase / group (16-18) like Pulisic mentioned, has done about all they can or wanted to within the US system and is looking for new challenges and experiences what would be your advise?

Considering that the player's family has the means and family overseas to support them, they just received there EU passport, played over there last couple of summers, has open invites to train at some clubs, academies, etc. Has agents contacts but their parents maybe not necessarily moving with them.

"Let’s keep in mind that the chances of anyone becoming a pro are slim and opting to chase that dream versus a scholarship and education is very risky"

If your player(s) understands this but they way they sees it they have a couple more years before college anyway so why not now? Can always attend university when they finish high school requirements and the schools checked out overseas are pretty good if not more expensive than currently HS.

So what's everybody opinions on this?

There are no 'elite' youth players. Unless you are talking about Mbappe but he is no longer a teenager.

It's tough for U.S. player to do. First there are the immigration laws. Pulisic has dual EU/US citizenship which is why he was able to do it. Second, for those under 18 there are the child trafficking restrictions. And third the US double taxation penalties on income and the banking restrictions put in place after 9/11 mean that you have to be pretty well off to get around it and swallow the penalties. Finally, there are the language barriers (obviously the UK & Ireland are easier, but with Brexit who knows what the UK will allow).

One of the good things the MLS Academies are doing is building the relationships with the European clubs and governments in order to facilitate these moves, but realistically unless there are major changes to the laws, this is going to be limited to those over 18/17.

I can tell you from first hand and others' experience that living abroad while young can be a fabulous and invaluable experience. It's an experience I wish my kids will have one day..........if we go as a family. In this case, it's not a couple of fun semesters overseas but a young man trying to make a living at the age of 16. I would find a way so at least my wife or I can be there with him.

I was reading the Ben Lederman and the La Masia story, and I really admire what his parents did. We all drive up and down the 5 or 405 freeways to take our kids to soccer for mostly pathways to nowhere. If the real La Masia actually comes calling, I would find a way to get him over there. If you somehow could tell ahead of time that after La Masia the precise chance is 0.1% to make Barca's A team, 1% to make another La Liga team, and 5% to play 2nd or 3rd divisions in La Liga, it would still not change my decision.

Finally, I will answer your question by telling you a conversation with a friend of mine. He lives in SoCal but his son plays baseball all the way in some state school in Georgia. Both the dad and the son know it's unlikely he will ever make it to the show, and the son did ask my friend if he should just come home and forget about it. My friend told his son "I have been working at a desk for 40 years. You will have plenty of time to sit at a desk later in life. But if you want to play baseball, go do it".