Jhon Arias extends a message of support to Néstor Lorenzo on the Colombian national team: "He's someone we have a lot of trust in."

Jhon Arias is experiencing crucial moments for his future. After being included in the Club World Cup's All-Star XI, with which he reached the semifinals with Fluminense, the Colombian hopes a transfer to Wolverhampton will be finalized and thus fulfill his dream of playing in Europe.

For now, Arias is resting for a few days until he decides what the next step in his career will be, and he has time to think about what's next for the Colombian national team, which has yet to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In an interview with ESPN, Arias spoke about the difficult moment the national team is going through, having gone winless in the last six qualifying matches, putting their qualification at risk.

"The national team is going through a period of rebuilding its identity. We had a high peak in the Copa América, and it's been a bit difficult for us to maintain that performance. I think the important thing is that the human talent is there, that the coach (Lorenzo) continues to lead, and has a good understanding of the group," Arias stated.

Regarding his relationship with Lorenzo, Arias was emphatic: "He's a person we trust a lot; we trust his work, his ability. These things happen in their own right, and unfortunately, we're not having a pleasant time right now," he insisted.

The Fluminense star is the player with the second most appearances in the qualifying round during Lorenzo's era, with 15, one less than James Rodríguez. He started 14 of them, and only played the full 90 minutes twice, against Ecuador and Paraguay, both away matches.

Arias believes the national team must analyze what it's failing at in order to get back on track for the World Cup. "We have the opportunity to qualify directly for the World Cup, but I think there are things that need to be reviewed and improved. We have room for improvement, and the best side of the national team is yet to come. There are things to review, to look at, and to analyze. I believe we are fully capable of returning to those moments of clarity, of that great national team that excited all of Colombia," he stated.

Looking to the future, Arias also wants to contribute to the national team with a specific element of his game: free kick taking, something that, within the team, has a name: James Rodríguez, first, and then Juan Fernando Quintero.

The Quibdó native surprised everyone by scoring a stunning goal in the Club World Cup against Ulsan HD of South Korea.

"I'm even trying to learn. We have great free-kick takers in the national team, like James and Juanfer himself, two set-piece specialists. I think they have a different quality with their left foot," he said.

"Clearly, I'm here to learn. I also like being able to explore that facet of my game, of my career, because, as I've said on other occasions, the more complete I am, the better for me, and the more it benefits the club and the national team. I work every day to become a little more adept at the art of taking free kicks," he added.