Jonathan Gonzalez confirms intention to represent Mexico national team

The 18-year-old midfielder represented the U.S. at the youth level but is now set to play for El Tri

The documents are yet to be sent, but Mexican-American midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez has confirmed his intention to file a one-time switch with FIFA and represent the Mexico national team.

Gonzalez had played for the U.S. at the U-20 and U-17 levels but has not worn the Stars and Stripes since his breakout Apertura with Monterrey that saw him earn a starting role in the middle of Rayados' midfield in a season that saw them make Liga MX final after finishing first in the regular-season table.

U.S. Soccer sources confirmed to Goal that they had received notification of Gonzalez's intention to file a change of associations - one of the first stages of the process of going through FIFA's one-time switch. And while Mexico's director of national teams Dennis te Kloese said Monday that nothing is official and the paperwork has not yet been sent, it seems like only a matter of time until Gonzalez is representing El Tri.

"If they'll consider me, I'm deciding to defend the colors of this country. It would be an honor," Gonzalez tweeted in reply to Monterrey's official account.