Sounders’ youngest training camp invitee heading to United States U16 camp

Hot prospect Azriel Gonzalez, 15, spent a few days playing with the Seattle Sounders during preseason training camp. Although a minor injury kept him off of the travel rosters, he never seemed entirely out of place. Now, with his recovery complete he was called into Bradenton for the United States B16 training camp. The camp started on March 5 and stretches to March 13. It is prep for a mid-April tournament where the USA will play against Belgium and Japan. The other invitees to the Mondial Minimes Tournament are France, Cameroon, China, Brazil, Denmark, Morocco, England, Mexico and Portugal.

Gonzalez is a forward/midfielder with flair in possession and goal-scoring panache. It’s hard to know what his future position will be until he matures physically. At this time he plays both as an attacking mid and a forward. In the current U18 season he has one start, he scored. He also has nine goals with the U16s and is ranked ninth in the USSDA West for goals scored. Azriel is 6th in the West by goals per game.

He is in his second year in the Sounders Academy system. Currently residing in Renton, WA he will graduate in 2019.

Gonzalez was a camp regular in 2016.

U.S. U-16 BNT Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Michael Collodi (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Dane Jacomen (Pittsburgh Riverhounds; Pittsburgh, Pa.)

DEFENDERS (10): Julian Araujo (Santa Barbara SC; Lompoc, Calif.), Nico Benalcazar (New York City FC; Wilton, Conn.), Edward Berumen (Sacramento Republic FC; Salida, Calif.), Eduardo Blancas (Real Salt Lake; Napa, Calif.), Justin Haak (New York City FC; Brooklyn, N.Y.), John Hilton (LA Galaxy; Long Beach, Calif.), Alexsi Morel (New York City FC; Huntington Station, N.Y.), Eben Noverr (Colorado Rapids; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Cole Rovegno (Sacramento Republic FC; Folsom, Calif.), Nathan Toledo (FC Dallas; McKinney, Texas)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Oscar Cervantes (IMG Academy; Indio, Calif.), Cameron Duke (Sporting KC; Olathe, Kan.), Nelson Martinez (DC United; Woodbridge, Va.), Matko Milijevic (A.A. Argentinos Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina), Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas), Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas)

FORWARDS (6): Luis Arriaga (Real Salt Lake; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Jordan Bender (Orlando City SC; Lake Mary, Fla.), Azriel Gonzalez (Seattle Sounders FC; Renton, Wash.), Ben Ortiz (Real Salt Lake; Orem, Utah), Gabe Segal (Bethesda SC; Bethesa, Md.), Scotty Taylor (New York Red Bulls; Millburn, N.J.)