Orlando City defender Amro Tarek has defended the decision of Egypt coach Hector Cuper to summon him in the team’s provisional squad for the World Cup.

Tarek made the switch to Orlando City in the January transfer window on loan from Egyptian Premier League side Wadi Degla and has featured for nine MLS games since the start of the season in March.

The 25-year-old was a surprise addition to Egypt’s 29-man squad called by Cuper after he was barely present among the coaching staff’s selections for the World Cup qualifiers and the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations as well. However, Tarek argued that Egyptians’ judgement of the caliber of football at MLS is not good enough.

“The MLS is not poor the way Egyptians see it. It is a very strong and competitive league and has a huge publicity. The fans need to grasp this,” Tarek told DMC Sports channel.

“My Egypt call up was a dream, whether I go to Russia or not. I received an Egypt call before with Hector Cuper, and Hamada Tolba had given me some advice. The coaching staff make their choices based on their requirements and not based on the player’s condition or his current form with his team.”

“Egypt have become a strong side. I am stunned by Mohamed Salah’s brilliance, we can make it to the round of 16. My contract with Orlando is until the end of the season, with the presence of a buy-out option and the club told me that they will trigger that clause.”