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Peru National Team manager Ricardo Gareca has plans to speak with, and potentially recruit, Andrew Farrell, according to a report from Peruvian soccer outlet americadeportes.pe.
The article—first spotted by @RevGunner—references a late-January recruiting trip for Gareca, who will reportedly meet with Farrell and 18-year-old Chicago Fire midfielder Colin Fernandez.
Andrew Farrell getting a look from Peru? JK's loss. #NERevs https://t.co/GrSw5bhCMJ
— RevGunner (@RevGunner) January 19, 2016
The trip will enable Gareca to visit players with Peruvian roots to gauge their interest in competing for the Peruvian National squad. Per the report, Gareca will later travel to Europe, where he has his eyes set on two additional players. The timing is particularly pertinent, as Peru continues its quest for the 2018 Russia World Cup in March with qualifying matches against Venezuela (March 21) and Uruguay (March 29). Gareca's team plays six additional qualifying matches in 2016.
Though born in Louisville, Ky., Farrell moved to Peru at the age of five when his parents began working internationally with the Presbyterian Church. As a child, he played small-sided soccer games with his Peruvian classmates, using rocks for goals and chalk to draw touchlines, per an article from the Boston Globe's Rob Harms. Farrell returned to the U.S. following his 15th birthday and ultimately decided to play collegiate soccer at the University of Louisville.
Though many Revolution pundits believe Farrell deserves a chance to compete with U.S. Men's National Team, Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has yet to look his way. Gareca's reported conversation with Farrell could put the right back one step closer to playing for Peru—a nation he fell in love with as a child.