After years of Canada trying to land Marcelo Flores, manager Jesse Marsch has taken an important first step toward getting the dynamic young dual-national attacking player into his side.
Multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic that Flores, 22, will attend Canada camp in the upcoming international window as a training player, meaning he will not play for the team but will instead train and get an understanding of the environment. Canada has two friendlies this window, against Ecudaor in Toronto on Nov. 13 and Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 18.
By simply appearing in camp, it would not change the international allegiance for Flores, who has played for Mexico’s youth and senior national teams. But Flores is eligible to file a one-time FIFA switch under the current regulations because his three appearances for Mexico’s senior team came before the age of 21. It’s believed joining Canada as a training player is the first step for Flores before he ultimately considers going forward with his one-time switch.
A source, however, described Flores’ interest in Canada as serious. The source outlined that for Flores, accepting an invite as a training player would be done so with the long-term goal of representing Canada in mind.
There is a strong possibility that the addition of Flores to Canada’s set-up would not just be as a World Cup audition, but as an opportunity for a young player to develop for years under Marsch. He is a creative playmaker at heart who can line up both as a left winger and a No. 10. He previously developed in Arsenal’s youth system, and his attack-minded game made him one at one point of the more tantalizing prospects in North American soccer. Flores never played for Arsenal and moved to Segunda Division’s Real Oviedo on loan before moving to Tigres in Mexico in September 2023.
Flores has not been a regular for Tigres this season, making just four appearances and one start. Flores scored his lone goal of the Liga MX Apertura in that start. He was, however, a far more regular starter for Tigres last season.
For Canada, the addition of Flores would be a timely one.
Canada struggled during the October international window to create consistent dangerous chances from midfield. While Canada put up strong, respectable defensive efforts against very good Australia and Colombia sides, it also came out of the window without scoring a goal.
Marsch undoubtedly recognizes he needs more creativity in his attack. He also needs to forge better connections between his midfield and star forward Jonathan David. The Juventus striker is one of Canada’s most important players, but he cannot continue to drop too deep into the midfield on his own without it sacrificing the end product. The need for a creative spark in Canada’s training sessions at the very least has become evident.
Canada manager Jesse Marsch with midfielder Ismaël Koné during a September friendly vs. Wales (Catherine Ivill / AMA / Getty Images)
Ismaël Koné is currently in pole position for an advanced midfield role in Canada’s World Cup starting lineup. He has shown well in recent appearances, but Marsch also wants to see more consistency in his game. Niko Sigur has the quality on the ball to play in an advanced midfield role but continued injuries to Alistair Johnston also make Sigur valuable at left back.
As for Flores, he was born in Georgetown, Ontario, and also has an English passport. His mother is Canadian and is of English descent. Marcelo’s father played soccer in Mexico.
After playing for Mexico’s youth national teams, Flores made his debut as a late substitute for the senior national team in December 2021 in a friendly against Chile. He appeared again in an April 2022 friendly against Guatemala and then made his competitive debut in June 2022 in a Nations League win over Suriname. Since then, Flores has not played for El Tri.
Marsch’s interest in Flores is not Canada’s first attempt to recruit him. John Herdman’s efforts to convince Flores to play for Canada were persistent during his spell as manager. Flores at one point accepted a call-up to a Canada camp in January 2021 before pulling out to remain with Arsenal.
After Herdman and Canada beat the U.S. 2-0 during a January 2022 World Cup qualifying match – one of Canada’s most convincing World Cup qualifying wins in 2022 – Herdman said: “I’m sure you’ve got players like young Marcelo Flores [who] might be looking after this game and wondering whether he wants to play for Mexico or Canada. This is what we’re starting to provoke across the world.”
Flores, at the time, still chose Mexico, stating he would represent Eli Tri “wholeheartedly for the rest of my professional life.” Yet his outlook with Mexico now looks different. Playing time does not seem as likely as it was back then. His last call-up came in September 2024 – when he remained on the bench during a friendly against Marsch’s Canada.