Chivas USA forward Julio Morales called up to Mexico U-20 camp

Chivas USA announced Monday that first-year forward Julio Morales, on loan from Chivas de Guadalajara, has been selected to Mexico's U-20 team training camp, taking place April 22-29. The camp includes two scrimmages, but the opponents are unannounced. Furthermore, I haven't been able to find any other news about this camp and who else is on the team, so it appears Morales is the only player currently identified in the set-up.

Mexico will play in the U-20 World Cup in June and July in Turkey, so this camp is meant as a tune-up and perhaps an opportunity for a few players to try and distinguish themselves and get the tip to make the plane for the World Cup. Morales was not on the squad in the recent CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which was the regional qualifying tournament for the World Cup, so it is unclear if he's there for an audition or if he's there to train and provide competition for the players who will be going to Turkey.

Morales is American-born and -raised, but as a Chivas de Guadalajara player, he is informally ineligible to play for the U.S. internationally, although at this point, it appears he is happy to be in the Mexico set-up and I've heard no interest for him on the American side. He's started three games for Chivas USA this season, playing 180 minutes total, but not yet getting involved in the scoring. Since the Mexico camp will run through April 29, Morales will be out for Saturday's league match against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Congrats to Julio on the selection! Do the Goats proud!

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