USMNT player to watch

Ever wonder what it’s like to be touted as the next Pele when you’re only 14? Then be called a bust just a few years later? Can someone not even 18-years-old be considered overrated?

Only Freddy Adu can answer those questions.

Many budding soccer stars are hyped just about every year, but none more so than Freddy Adu.

Just two years after moving to the U.S. from his native Ghana, Adu was already getting attention locally and nationally in U.S. soccer circles. At the age of 12, he competed in an under-14 tournament in Italy with an ODP team against some the top Italian youth clubs. His team won the tournament and young Freddy blew them all away with the eyes of Italian giants looking on. Inter Milan and others came calling, but the answer was no.

Since European clubs will only allow foreign players under 18 to play at the youth level, and Adu’s desire to play professionally, he chose to become the youngest American athlete in over 100 years to sign a major professional contract. He was only 14, but D.C. United signed him to four-year $2 million contract.
With the weight of the world and U.S. soccer’s presence, there was no possible way that the boy could live up to the hype.

And he didn’t.

Adu showed flashes of brilliance now and again, but struggled mightily. He was extremely inconsistent. Much of what you should expect of a 14-year-old playing against grown men. He just wasn’t ready mentally and his small frame didn’t help. As he still is today, Adu was only 5-foot-8, but rest of the body wasn’t there. He looked like your typical eighth grader.

After failing to pass a two-week tryout with Manchester United when he was 17, he headed back to MLS to play for Real Salt Lake, who he was traded to when relationships with D.C. went south.

With the world beginning to see that he wasn’t panning out, Adu sure changed some minds with his explosiveness and ability to make something out of nothing during his play at the U-20 FIFA World Cup. He also became only the second player ever to play in three U-20 World Cups.

When it came to playing for Real Salt Lake again after his exposure on the international stage, Adu refused, opting to transfer to Portuguese club, Benfica. After a promising start and the expectations of increased playing time, things changed in hurry.

Benfica just couldn’t find a place for Adu. He’s an attacking midfielder. Not a midfielder. Not a forward. He’s a tweener and the Portuguese club just didn’t know what to do with him.

In July 2008, at 19, Benfica loaned him out to AS Monaco, where he was expected to get more playing time. Thus far, that hasn’t happened. Differences between the manager and owner have left Adu stuck in a difficult situation again. He has an option to join the club permanently after the season, but only time and a major increase in playing will tell.

Recently, Glasgow Rangers has come into the picture as a possibility, especially with Americans DeMarcus Beasley and newly acquired Maurice Edu on their squad.

Despite his movement throughout the world, his game has been progressing (shocking huh?). He will never live up to the original hype, and it’s a shame that’s all most people think about when they hear the name Freddy Adu. He was arguably the brightest spot in a 0-0 draw earlier this year with Argentina and appeared to be the most explosive player on the Olympic team, so it’s about time that he starts getting significant minutes with the national team and be given the opportunity to show people that his truly talented.

He’s had time with them, but not enough. Working toward 2010 is the goal right now, and Freddy is part of the future. The type of play he brings is just different. It’s exciting and something most people don’t typically see from the U.S. side. His play is still inconsistent, but with him in there, there’s no telling what can happen.

Bob Bradley just needs to find him spot and let him play. Let him run. He’s not a player you can keep trapped in a box. Allow him to let his creativity shine and good things will happen.