Red Bulls statement on Johnny Exantus

By BRIAN LEWIS

After Belgian team Royal Racing Club of Montegnee announced that they had signed Johnny Exantus, I’ve been trying to get a response from the Red Bulls about one of their prized academy prospects. This is what Director of Youth Programs Bob Montgomery had to say:

“We are aware of the reports in the news that claim that Johnny has signed with a foreign club, but have not received any formal notification from Johnny, nor his guardian confirming that information,’’ Montgomery said.

“What we do know is that Johnny is currently playing for his high school team, and that he is currently not a member of a Red Bull Academy team. Therefore we are unable to comment on his status.’’ There isn’t anything controversial or sinister in Exantus not being part of the academy; he’s simply too old to be on the Red Bull U-18s, and the U-20s apparently don’t join up until the spring.

But after seeing him lead his U-18 academy squad with 22 goals and eight assists _ and be named to the US Soccer Development Academy Mid-Atlantic Division Starting XI _ they’d gladly bump him up to the U-20s.

“What we can say is that he is no longer eligible for the Red Bull U18 team based upon his age, but he is eligible to continue his relationship with the Red Bull U20 team, which is something we would welcome,’’ Montgomery said. “The U20 players, however, are not signed until the spring.’’

Apparently Exantus has been playing and scoring for Columbia H.S. in Maplewood (NJ), the same place that brought you Lauryn Hill and Elisabeth Shue. So what exactly is the deal with Johnny X, whose initial dazzling of Mo Johnston brought the whole academy system under the spotlight?

Well, the place he supposedly signed with is a fourth-division team; and they seem to be a feeder club and academy set up to get kids onto European rosters. But they claim they don’t endanger athletes amateur eligibility, so I suppose it’s always possible he could come back to play in the NCAA.

“Johnny has been a long-time member of our Academy program,’’ Montgomery said. “He joined us in 2005 with the U16s and moved up through the ranks playing on our U18 and U20 teams this past spring.’’

Yeah, but I’m thinking it became obvious that _ for whatever reason _ he wasn’t liable to get signed by the big club, so he made this move.

Who knows what really happened? What do you think? Good move for Johnny X? Think he’ll be back stateside to try his hand at MLS someday? Or he’ll latch on somewhere in Europe? Check in with your opinion….