Amirgy Pineda continues to make fans across the globe.

The most recent group of admirers come Nike’s Academy where Pineda won the chance to be part of a very selective group that has the opportunity of a lifetime.

“[Ami] was selected to be part of the 18 that gets showcased all through Europe,” Fullerton Rangers Director of Coaching and Pineda’s club coach James Obleda. “Nike officials told me that he was the first American to ever make that team and he is the youngest kid in the group.”

Brian Iloski made waves earlier this early with Nike after he won a spot on the Chance’s team, but Iloski did not make the cut for the Academy team, which is where Pineda will be for the next three months.

“He leaves in two weeks for England – he is going to be there for three months,” Obleda said. “He will be living there and training with the Nike Academy. Ultimately, he will be showcased against other academies and have the opportunity to maybe get an offer from a professional team.”

For the player, this is a huge opportunity. After standing out from a crowd of 60 players from across the globe, Pineda was one of the six players to earn a spot on the Nike Academy team.

“He is over the moon,” Obleda said. “For him, he has seen more of the country than any other kid from his neighborhood. Since he was seven, this is something that we are have been striving for.

“Being Ami [Pineda], he has always kept his feet on the ground and make the most of this chance.”

Obleda said that Nike invited Pineda after his performance over the summer at the event in Beaverton, Ore. The athletics goods company invited another American, but the player was unable to attend the Global Showcase in England.

Pineda is one of the top recruits from the class of 2015, and Obleda said he is keeping his college eligibility during this process.

Although the future looks bright from the Fullerton Rangers star, he is looking to take it one step at a time.

Sal Esposito excelling in Italy

Sal Esposito, a former member of Manhattan Kickers FC, has been doing exceptionally well with Genoa CFC recently. The skillful player, who was born in 2001, was recently named the MVP of a 16-team tournament in Italy that his club won. Genoa beat Fiorentina and Empoli academies on the way to the crown.

Esposito is age-eligible for the 2017 U17 World Cup cycle, which recently kicked off its first camp with head coach Tony Lepore who called in 48 players in Sept. The majority of that squad was made up of players born in 2000, so Esposito may be waiting until next year for the start of camps with the 2001s.

Green signs with Bayern Munich

German-American Julian Green signed his first professional contract last week with Bayern Munich, the club announced. Green is an 18-year-old winger who spent a lengthy period of the preseason with the club.

The teenager flirted with a U.S. Soccer call-up this month, but head coach Jurgen Klinsmann told the Federation’s official site that he wanted to give Green “time to breathe.”

Green has appeared with the Germany U19 side in an official competition, so he would have to file a one-time switch before he could appear with the U.S. national team.

photo credits: Nike Soccer, Manhattan Kickers FC