Diego Kochen Says Barcelona Return 'Would Be Any Kid's Dream' as Loan Star Shines for USMNT
A La Masia graduate dreaming of a Camp Nou return
Diego Kochen has made no secret of where his long-term ambitions lie. The United States men's national team goalkeeper, currently on loan from Barcelona Atlètic at Danish Superliga club Lyngby Boldklub, says a return to the Catalan giants would fulfill a lifelong dream.
Born in Miami but having split his upbringing between the United States and Barcelona, Kochen came through the ranks at La Masia. He is yet to make a senior appearance for the first team, but he is candid about his goal of one day pulling on the Blaugrana shirt.
"I'm on loan right now with Lyngby, so one of my goals is to compete as much as possible and give everything I have for that club. At the same time, I come from Barcelona, so to be able to go back? It'd be any kid's dream to go back to such a big club and have the opportunity there. That's another one of my goals," he said in a new interview.
For now, however, Kochen is keeping his focus on the present. "But I'm more of like an experience-by-experience guy. Right now, I'm here at camp with the national team, so, for right now, my goal is just to give it my all and give it my all for the nation," he added.
From Lyngby starter to USMNT history-maker
Kochen's development has accelerated on loan in Denmark, where he has established himself as a starter for Lyngby in the Danish Superliga. That form has translated to the international stage, with the goalkeeper recently earning his first caps for the USA and making his first start — a clean sheet in a 3-0 win over Mexico.
With that appearance, he became the youngest goalkeeper to ever start a match for the United States against Mexico, adding his name to the record books.
"I'm just creating memories," he said. "These are some things I'll never forget for the rest of my life. They're opportunities and experiences that I'm so thankful and grateful to have been a part of. Now I'm back here, which is what every kid dreams of."
Kochen has represented the USA from the very youngest age groups, progressing from the U16 side all the way up to the full men's team.
The value of surviving La Masia's competition
Reflecting on his formative years in Catalonia, Kochen pointed to the relentless battle for places at La Masia as the toughest adjustment of his young career.
"It's so competitive even from an early age," he said. "You have to fight for one position that early and to learn the values of competition early. That was the biggest shocker, I'd say, out of everything."
He also recalled one of his fondest memories: riding on the open-top bus with the first team during Barcelona's La Liga title celebrations. And he credited the caliber of talent around him for shaping his mentality.
"Then when you start climbing up the ranks and start going, seeing the individual quality of the players like Lamine, for example, or Raphinha or all these players, yeah, that's what shocks you again. That never gets old. Just to be surrounded by personalities like that, it's absolutely incredible. There's no better learning environment. I try to take things from everybody. You can learn from absolutely everybody."
What comes next
Time will tell whether Kochen earns a route back to Barcelona or continues his progression elsewhere. For now, the goalkeeper is committed to making the most of his loan spell at Lyngby and his opportunities with the USMNT — all while keeping the door open to the club that first shaped him.