U.S. and Puebla forward Herculez Gomez blasted Club America's Ventura Alvarado for not having a sense of nationalism and said the 22-year-old should keep his indecision to himself about playing for either Mexico or the United States rather than involve the media.
"He should decide before he speaks," Gomez told ESPN.com.mx via telephone on Tuesday night. "With all due respect, neither the United States nor Mexico teams want to hear this from him. Both sets of fans want commitment.
"If he feels he is Mexican he should say so or if he feels he is part of the United States he should say so, but with this he is showing disrespect to both countries. No fans want to see that. We want to see a player who is committed."
Alvarado incurred Gomez's wrath after he told ESPN Mexico on Tuesday that he has no preference about playing for either country, but his goal is to get called up by one or the other.
"I didn't say that I want them [the United States] to call me," the youngster told ESPN.com.mx. "I only said that I hope that I am called either there or here [Mexico]. My dream is that one of the national teams calls me, but I did not say that I prefer the United States."
Alvarado was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Mexican parents and headed south to join Club America as a teenager, rising through the youth ranks alongside the likes of Raul Jimenez and Diego Reyes.
From there, he sharpened up during a successful year-long loan spell at second division Necaxa in the 2013-14 season. On return, the center-back -- who can also play right or left-back -- had to be patient before getting his shot in the semifinal of the 2014 Apertura, when Paul Aguilar was banished from the squad, and Alvarado filled in as the team's right-back as Las Aguilas charged to the title.
There have been reports out of the United States suggesting that he would likely be called up for the U.S. for the March friendlies against Denmark and Switzerland in Europe later this month.
Meanwhile, Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has been cautious, indicating recently he had "not decided" about Alvarado and adding that he has sufficient depth to cover his position.