After receiving a red card in America de Cali’s crucial away match in the Colombian league playoff against Once Caldas, Diego Restrepo is unsure of his future. The former UVA and U.S. U-17 national team player was sent off late in the loss Thursday night, and his team immediately conceded two goals, and was eliminated.

“For 70 minutes I was man of the match, I was playing really well,” Restrepo said. “And then I had a little bit of a cramping problem, and the referee thought I was wasting time, and gave me a yellow card. Like five minutes after that, there was a through ball and I came out and unfortunately I took out the forward, and he gave me my second yellow. Then they scored two goals right away, it was a tough match.”

Restrepo won’t be available on Sunday when America travels to Boyaca to take on Patriotas in the home and away dual for survival. That may give a chance for a debut to America’s other American ‘keeper, Kevin Piedrahita.

“It does carry over. I’ll be out on Sunday.”

The UVA graduate will have the chance to play the return leg, but he’s not sure how many more games he would play with America after that. The stopper says offers are coming in for his services from Colombia and abroad.

“My future here is still not clear,” he said. “I just got a call today from Millonarios with an offer, and I got a couple offers from other clubs. I’m looking at my options. My contract runs out in 20 days. As of now I’ll probably stay in Colombia. I think I can play here and be a player that stands out in this league.”

Restrepo was a little taken aback at the treatment he’s received from some fans after being red-carded, but said that wouldn’t influence his ultimate decision.

“A red card changes a lot with the people that really don’t understand soccer. But the people who understand soccer are talking really good about me,” he said. “I have an offer here to stay around for three years, but we’ll have to see what happens. I would bet my life on it that we won’t go to the second division.”

As for the question of the international game, the ‘keeper, born in Venezuela to Colombian parents and raised in the U.S., says he’s close to playing international soccer for someone. Though he hopes it’s the U.S., Restrepo said he hasn’t heard from the USSF, but Venezuela is interested in his services. Restrepo said he’s set the January USMNT as his goal to get called in by Jurgen Klinsmann.

“I would love to get a call from the United States,” Restrepo said. “Obviously my goal is to play international soccer,” he added, explaining that he wouldn’t say to no to Venezuela forever if the U.S. doesn’t come calling.

by Brent