The Football Association of Finland have announced that Robert Taylor rejected an international call-up this month to stay with Inter Miami.
The 29-year-old winger has emerged as one of the Tata Martino’s most trusted forwards after the arrival of Lionel Messi, with Taylor’s game improving greatly since the Argentine’s arrival.
The versatile attacker already has three goals in six games this season, yet with Finland competing in a crucial Euro 2024 playoff this month, Taylor was expected to leave to compete for his national team.
Robert Taylor rejects Finland call-up to stay with Inter Miami
However, as per the FAF’s official website, Taylor refused to return to Europe to compete for Finland ahead of their playoff semi-final tie against Wales, where the winner will face Poland or Estonia for a place in this summer’s Euros.
As you can expect, the decision from Taylor to reject arguably his nation’s biggest international match in some years has not gone down well with fans on social media.
Given the size of Finland’s fixture with Wales and how good Taylor has been in the last eight months, the Inter Miami star could have been crucial for the Scandinavian country in their quest to qualify for Euro 2024.
However, Taylor’s decision to stay with Inter Miami has caused controversy, and the winger could now miss out on this summer’s competition if Finland win the playoffs.
Inter Miami star might have just made a huge international mistake
Taylor staying with Inter Miami perhaps makes sense given that the Herons have MLS fixtures over the international break as well as CONCACAF Champions Cup tie to prepare for next month.
However, unlike Messi, Taylor’s international fixtures with Finland are of great importance, with a place in this summer’s biggest soccer tournament on the line in Euro 2024.
And the winger rejecting the chance to compete for Finland in order to stay with his club is a bold one, yet it is one that could backfire massively in the weeks to come.