Can Gedion Zelalem Survive the American Hype Machine?

Earlier this week, Steven Goff of the Washington Post wrote a strange piece of soccer journalism. The story is about a 17-year-old boy, whom Goff apparently followed around Washington DC, but did not speak with, as that boy went through the process of becoming a naturalized US citizen. As I read it, I couldn't help but picture Goff in one of those nose and glasses disguises, a few steps behind the kid, scribbling in his notebook, feigning interest in a bush or a park bench if the boy ever turned around. I mean, here's an actual line from the story: "Zelalem visited the Passport Agency on 19th Street Northwest, three blocks from the White House, and was recognized by at least two bystanders."

Goff wasn't doing some kind of deep-cover investigative piece. He was just excited, like the two bystanders, because Gedion Zelalem happens to be a midfielder on the roster at Arsenal, the club that produced some of the best midfielders playing the game today, most notably Cesc Fabregas. Zelalem was born in Berlin to Ethiopian parents. As a youngster, his family moved to Washington DC, where Zelalem spent his formative years before moving to Arsenal in 2013. Now that he's an American citizen, he can play for the US national team.

Goff's story went on to speculate about Zelalem's World Cup future. And then this Tweet from US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati sent American fans into a defcon-five, Freddy Adu-level meltdown:

Gedion Zelalem is now a U.S. citizen. At his request we have started the FIFA process which would allow him to be eligible for the #USMNT.

— Sunil Gulati (@sunilgulati) December 30, 2014

This is all great. Zelalem was eligible to play for Germany or Ethiopia, so it's cool that the US has another top prospect in its player pool. And Zelalem's situation at Arsenal is literally as good as it gets for a 17-year-old, uber-talented prospect. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is famous for giving young players a chance to test themselves. But he hasn't given Zelalem that chance. Not yet—not really. Since joining the team, Zelalem has made a couple appearances in cup matches. But his only playing time this season came in a completely meaningless Champions League match against Galatasaray; Arsenal had already qualified for the next round.

In other words, if ever there was a talented prospect, Zelalem is it. But he's just that, a prospect. And he's one of many, with a long road ahead of him.

Consider for a moment that there are 10 clubs in London playing in the first two divisions of professional soccer. 10. In one city. How many super-talented teenagers does that make just in London? And guess what? They won't all become superstars. They won't all even become first-division pros. The game is littered with what-ifs and nearly-weres. Injuries can derail a career before it even starts. Even players thought to be a sure thing don't always pan out. Gaël Kakuta and Josh McEachran are both still young, but at 23 and 21, respectively, neither is where the hype machine predicted they'd be when they were 17. I wonder if either of them would tell you all that hype helped.

Americans should know better than anybody that you can't hype a player into being the real deal. All you can be is patient and hopeful. There's enough pressure on someone who isn't even a legal adult just to make the first team squad—hell, just live on his own and learn to pay the rent—and then not fuck it up. In no world does a kid benefit from being the hope of a nation.

In one sense, Goff and the rest of the hype machine was just doing it's job. But when that involves carefully documenting the important life decisions of a minor and then connecting the dots all the way to World Cup glory, it can start to feel a bit surreal and thoroughly cart-in-front-of-horse. It's telling that Zelalem himself hasn't spoken on the matter.

American soccer fans (and journalists) are dying for the US to have a genuine superstar, but that's not Zelalem. Not yet, at least. The best thing we can do to help produce that American superstar is to just chill. Let the kids do their thing.