Đorđe Petrović (foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Serbian goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović reveals he turned down a surprising invitation to play for the U.S. national team, recounting his conversation with coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Đorđe Petrović, the Serbian goalkeeper currently on loan from Chelsea to Strasbourg, recently shared a surprising story about an invitation to play for the U.S. national team. Petrović, who has represented Serbia, recounted the unexpected offer on the Alesto podcast, mentioning how Mauricio Pochettino, the new U.S. head coach, reached out to him through an assistant coach.
Petrović explained that the assistant coach first asked him to get in touch. “When we finally spoke, he asked if I could play for the U.S. team. I told him it wasn’t possible, as I don’t have American papers,” said Petrović. Even if he did, Petrović affirmed that he wouldn’t consider switching teams. “It wasn’t realistic, and even if I could, I wouldn’t change my national team.”
Petrović has a good relationship with Pochettino from their time together at Chelsea, which he reflected on positively. “He values what you do on the pitch, but he also appreciates how you conduct yourself off the field—with the staff, the chef, the kit manager. He truly cares about those things,” Petrović shared.
The Serbian keeper also recounted moments where Pochettino sought his opinions on tactics, which made Petrović reflect on how far he’d come. “I told my dad how two years ago I was watching him on TV, and now he’s asking for my thoughts on defensive strategies,” he said, highlighting the rapport they developed. Despite the unconventional offer, Petrović values their relationship and looks forward to future collaboration with Pochettino—albeit, as he emphasized, within the club setting.