KANSAS CITY - On the day Jonathan David tied Canada's all-time goal scoring record, he may have also reminded clubs around the world what he is capable of.
The centre-forward's 29 career goal in just his 54 appearance for Canada capped off an impressive performance. David's playmaking and quick footwork were on display as was his ability to buy into new coach Jesse Marsch's pressing demands.
David's strong all-round game comes after a summer he was expected to complete a long-awaited transfer out of Ligue 1. Lille President Oliver Letang said in June that David was available for move away from the club.
"It just didn't happen," David said in a rare and brief 1-on-1 with The Athletic after Canada's 2-1 win in a friendly over the United States. "There were a couple of offers and we just didn't finish the deal, that's it."
David has since returned to Lille, where he has three goals and two assists in seven appearances this season.
"I spoke to a couple of teams. I spoke with coaches. But ultimately (David and his camp) made the decision to stay," David said.
David appears to want to hold all the cards and feels comfortable waiting until the right project and the right offer emerges. Despite the fact that he is talented and mature enough to move on from Ligue 1, patience comes easy to the man still known around the Canadian squad as "The Iceman."
What, David is asked, is he waiting to see in his next move?
"What am I waiting for? I guess now it's easier to say. I'm in the last year of my contract. Eventually my contract is going to run out. So then we'll see. We'll see what happens next year," David said.
Multiple options remain possible for David's future. As he alluded to, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he lets his contract run out and leave the French club on a free transfer. That doesn't seem like something Lille would desire, however.
Perhaps they could try to extend David's contract with a salary increase and ensure Lille could still get a transfer fee should he move next summer.
"Well, right now we're speaking with the (Lille President Oliver Letang) about a possible extension," David said. "We'll see how that goes."
Even though David's profile, qualities and statistics in Ligue 1 suggest he could easily make the move to the Premier League, he insists he is not solely focused on a move to England. And so we could be in for another season waiting and wondering what comes next for one of Europe's most intriguing up-and-coming goal scorers.
"I'm open to anything," David said. "I think obviously the Premier League is regarded as one of the best league in the world. And for me it's not the Premier League or bust. I'm open to anything and every league has its challenges."