Premier League "superstar in the making" has big decision to make on future

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Luca Koleosho has stood out since signing for Burnley (Image: 2023 Getty Images)
Luca Koleosho has stood out since signing for Burnley (Image: 2023 Getty Images)

Burnley picked up their first point of the Premier League season on Monday night, and co-owner JJ Watt believes his team has a superstar on their hands.

Despite taking the lead in the first half through Zeki Amdouni, Burnley had to settle for a point against Nottingham Forest as Callum Hudson Odoi scored his first goal for the club in the 61st minute - and it was a screamer. Burnley have found it tough since being promoted back to the Premier League, losing their first three games.

Manager Vincent Kompany is likely to be given time after a stunning debut season in the Championship, and the club received fresh investment this summer as former NFL player JJ Watt and his wife Kealia Watt bought into the club. Kealia is a current professional football player, and JJ is a huge fan of the sport.

He's already got his eye on one future talent, as Luca Koleosho has impressed since being signed from Espanyol this summer for £2.6million. The 19-year-old was born in the United States, but has three other nations competing for his international representation.

"COME ON BURNLEY!!!!!!! AMDOUNI!!! Koleosho is an absolute superstar in the making. Superstar," Watt wrote on Twitter during their 1-1 draw against Forest on Monday night. Koleosho has played in every Premier League match so far for Burnley, and assisted during a 5-2 defeat against Tottenham.

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Koleosho is already attracting interest from some top European teams after announcing himself on the Premier League stage, but internationally he has a major decision to make. At youth level the forward has played for both Italy and the United States, but Nigeria and Canada are also interested in securing his international future.

The 19-year-old was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, to a Nigerian father and an Italian-Canadian mother. Koleosho has most recently represented Italy at U19 level, but was also called up to the Canadian men's national team for a friendly and two CONCACAF Nations League matches in June 2022.

Premier League "superstar in the making" has big decision to make on futureKoleosho has played in every Premier League this season for Burnley (2023 Getty Images)

Koleosho left the Canada camp after a cancelled friendly, meaning they missed the opportunity to hand him his senior international debut which would have locked in his future. Koleosho is considered an Italian national in football due to playing for their youth side this year, but the United States are stepping up their efforts to call him up to their senior side.

The forward's only trophy in his career so far was with the Italian youth team, as they won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. So far only Canada has called him up at senior level, but that could change as the season progresses.

The the USA continue to expand their talented roster, and at the recent World Cup they fielded the youngest starting eleven at the tournament. Koleosho may be swayed due to growing up in the United States, but could also be influenced by his parents who are from very different backgrounds.

Joseph McBride

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