“When the group first met him, we were immediately drawn to his personality and what a great person he is,” Berhalter added. “When people come into our environment and they see the type of atmosphere and the type of people involved, it goes a long way. The players ability to create this environment really speaks for itself. In the end, that’s what helps get a lot of these players.”
From there, Yunus continued to receive support, not only from the coaches but the legions of USMNT fans who followed his progress at Valencia. He was very grateful – and not the only one who noticed.
“After the last camp, a lot of people already thought of me as a USA player,” he said. “Even on FIFA, they changed my flag to USA. The U.S. supporters have been really warm and made me feel wanted and appreciated. They gave me huge support, even when I’m with my club. I love seeing all their comments on Instagram – especially all the flags.”
Yunus also saw up close the promising array of talent that includes a record number of U.S. players competing in the Champions League and playing in the biggest clubs in Europe. Even more auspicious is the relative age of the group and the massive potential that lies ahead.
“It’s exciting with such a young squad,” said Musah. “There’s going to be so many learning opportunities. It’s nice to compete against so many great players for spots. I’m sure we’re going to be able to do great things.”
With ability also comes expectations, and those are certainly on the rise for a group looking to put the USMNT on the right path with qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on the horizon. It’s a challenge that Musah embraces.
“For me, representing the United States means representing a huge country with lots of great people. I really love it, and I think I’m representing all of that and that makes me happy. I don’t feel pressure, it just makes me want to play even more.
He’s already taken the first step. The fans are now on the clock to come up with the perfect chant. After all, you can’t spell Musah without USA.
