By Juan Arango
The new FIFA rule that allowed players over to play for another national team gave a chance for many to have an international career. There were several players from the national youth levels that were locked in with a specific national side and were hopelessly waiting for a callup that most likely will never arrive.
The rule allowed some of those players that never declared themselves to be able to make their move.
Jermaine Jones and Giuseppe Rossi are two of the most recent cases that fans in the US can relate to for better and for worse.
For French fans, well Gonzalo Higuaín was the tease that only Raymond Domenech thought would become a reality.
In the case of Venezuela with Athletic Bilbao central defender Fernando Amorebieta (photo), it was a romance that finally came to fruition. Amorebieta has reached a crossroads in his career and made one of the biggest decisions he will ever have to face. The wishes of Venezuelan national team coach César Farías became true when the 25-year-old Amorebieta committed to his country of birth and ended his career with the Spanish national team.
After two previously failed attempts, Venezuela Football Federation president (FVF)
Rafael Esquivel got the verbal commitment from Amorebieta and the Bilbao defender will make his debut with the /Vinotinto /in September as they prepare for next year’s Copa América.
Amorebieta, born in Cantaura, Venezuela was always being looked at by Venezuelan coaches despite committing to the Spanish youth teams early on.
Amorebieta becomes the first player since current Vicenza forward Massimo Margiotta to nix the team that they played for to suit up for the /Vinotinto /back in 2004/.
/Margiotta was part of the Italian U-19, U-21, and Olympic team back in 2000.
Now Venezuela have a big acquisition that helps them shore up their defensive backline. A vital pickup if they intend to make Brazil 2014 their first-ever World Cup appearance.
Now the next big question for Farías is… will Barcelona youngster Jeffren Suárez follow
suit?
