By now, Seattle Sounders fans are well aware of the breakout season Cristian Roldan has enjoyed. The 21-year-old product of the University of Washington scored four goals and added three assists in his second season, but those stats only scratch the surface of how well he has done.
Roldan also completed 83 percent of his passes and began to establish himself as an elite holding midfielder, proving a perfect partner for Osvaldo Alonso.
Roldan has been so good that international football is more a matter of who he’ll play for than if he’ll play, as he’s eligible for Guatemala, El Salvador and the United States. The California native has maintained his preference to play for the USA, though, and now it appears he’ll get his chance.
Speaking to FS1 during pregame of the Eastern Conference finals, new USMNT head coach dropped a pretty strong hint that Roldan will be among those called into the January camp.
New #USMNT coach Bruce Arena joins our @FS1 set to discuss his short- and long-term plans for the team. #TORvMTL https://t.co/4Am4CnxVbd
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 30, 2016
“Seattle has some good players, such as Jordan Morris,” Arena said. “I thought Cristian Roldan has played well.”
That’s hardly a guarantee, but considering the only other players Arena mentioned by name were Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore — mainstays on the USMNT — that seems like a pretty good sign.