Explained: Why Ricardo Pepi is accepting super sub role for USMNT & PSV after riding career ‘roller coaster’

The 20-year-old striker left his MLS comfort zone at FC Dallas in 2022 when moving to Europe to link up with German outfit Augsburg. Things did not play out as planned there, but a 13-goal loan spell at Groningen last season earned Pepi another permanent transfer to Eredivisie giants PSV.

He missed out on a place in the United States squad for the World Cup finals in Qatar, but has earned an international recall since and has been among the goals for club and country. He may not be starting as many games as he would like, but Pepi has said of being an impact option: “You just have to assume your role. I feel like at the moment, [being a substitute is] my role for club and country, so I just have to be prepared for whatever opportunity I get and that’s my mentality.”

Pepi is hoping to put down roots in Eindhoven, after seeing his professional life lack stability for some time now, and he added on a wild period period for him on a personal level: “The last couple years have been a roller coaster, going from Germany to the Netherlands and then making my move to PSV. I’ve learned a lot about how to stabilise my mentality, from playing, from not playing a little bit, growing up as a person, getting to fit into different cultures. So it’s been a growing moment that I feel has helped a lot off the pitch.”

Pepi, who scored three goals for PSV this season and has nine international efforts to his name through 18 appearances, is in the latest USMNT squad that is preparing to take in friendly dates with Germany and Ghana.