Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko is a regular for Arsenal U16s and his performances for the youth team convinced Mikel Arteta to invite the young goalkeeper to train with the first team.
Earlier this month, the 16-year-old told CNN about his ambition to become a regular for the Gunners’ senior team.
Born in Basildon to a Russian mother and a Colombian father, the teenager is eligible to represent England and the other two countries. He has already played for England U15s, while he was called up by Colombia U17s in the last international break.
The Arsenal youngster has made it clear his desire is to represent the South American nation, during an interview with Caracol Radio’s program, El Carrusel.
“I want to play for Colombia and my heart goes out to Colombia. I want to be the starter for the Colombian senior national team and go to win the World Cup with them,” the young keeper said.
“I have already been to Colombia. My father tells me about the country and cooks Colombian food for me. Today, for example, he made us arepas, I really like food and culture. The people are very friendly and affectionate.”
Fedorushchenko has a long way to go before he goes on to become the first-choice custodian for Colombia’s senior team. That, however, has not stopped him from sending a warning to the national team’s current goalkeepers.
“I know David Ospina, Camilo Vargas and Álvaro Montero. With Ospina I have had the opportunity to speak personally, to meet him face to face when he was here at Arsenal, also by phone. I have talked to him several times. He is a great person, very decent,” he explained.
“A message to the goalkeepers who are in the national team, that they come to realise that I am going to arrive there very soon to be in the Colombian national team.”
