Johnny X, Duka training with Red Bulls
Amateurs preparing for the U-20 World Cup, auditioning for MLS future
That's because Johnny Exantus has been on the club's radar since 2006 when then-coach Mo Johnston was attempting to sign the Haitian-born forward to a professional contract after Extantus scored the winning goal in the Super-Y League championship.
Now, at the age of 19, Exantus might be ready to make his dreams of playing professional come true.
A product of the highly acclaimed Red Bulls academy system, Exantus has been training with the first team this week after turning down an offer from French club Metz.
"I've been in France for three months, but I didn't like it," Exantus said. "I want to start in MLS and then go back to Europe. That's why I came back."
The possibility of signing Exantus has become more attractive with Major League Soccer modifying its previous rules regarding the signing of academy players with clubs now able to sign two players to Generation adidas contracts. Exantus also already has his P-1 visa.
"That would be great. That's what I want, why I work hard to get onto the first team," Exantus said. "I like Red Bull. That's why I came back. I'd like to play with them."
Also training with the first team this week was Dilly Duka, a sophomore at Rutgers who is a rising star on the United States under-20 national team. Duka made his first cap in March, scoring a goal and setting up another in a 3-0 win against Jamaica in the CONCACAF U-20 championships.
In five matches, Duka earned four starts, tallying one goal and two assists. He also helped the United States clinch its berth by converting on his penalty kick as the U.S. defeated host nation Trinidad & Tobago.
"You can see that they are both talented players. They both can play," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "The problem by bringing the players here, if I am honest, is that there's only two good days for them to train, which is the first two days during the week because the last two days is about concentrating on the next game.
Duka immediately drew interest from Belgian side Anderlecht, but he is reportedly weighing his options. While he won't return to Rutgers in the fall since the FIFA U-20 World Cup is from Sept. 24-Oct. 16, Duka still maintains his amateur status. However, a good performance in Egypt could alter those plans.
For now, he is training with the Red Bulls first team to stay fit before the U-20 World Cup. But both players are certainly on Osorio's radar.
"We will keep them in here for a while," Osorio said. "And then, hopefully, make the right decision for them and for us."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com
