Adu to Benfica: $550,000/yr salary for 5 years (+housing,car and goal bonuses)

it's a good move for Freddy and it's a good move for RSL a they couldn't afford to keep him after this season because I believe they would be forced to use a DP slot for him and they have several holes to fill

 

Because they were being vastly underpaid in MLS before. Adu was being paid better, so the increase isn't there.

More proven players. If Adu 'makes it', expect him to be making a lot more.

Fox Soccer rankings? Come off it. Benfica are a regular champions league team, and better than Blackburn, Rangers or Pachuca. He's not going to get picked at Spurs, and probably not Celtic.

Those are real numbers though, not made up ones. He's playing for one of the big three, which much higher crowds. Portugal is a small, poor country and can't support a lot of teams.

Do me a favour, they're ranked sixth in Europe. IFFHS is a running joke. When was the last time a Uruguayan or Chilean team won anything or even reached a final? A Portuguese team won the CL in 2004, and Benfica reached the quarters last year, knocking out reigning champions Liverpool.

Obviously, there's no merit to playing against Man United, Ajax, Porto, AC Milan or Barcelona, rather than Kansas City Wizards or The Crew...

 

On the contrary, Portuguese clubs specialise in developing players and selling them on. In fact the non-competitive nature of their league gives them ample opportunity to allow players to develop.

And he gets to wear a shirt sponsored by Domino's Pizza.

 

Amazing post.

I could add alot more but thats alright for now.. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot( no pun intended) me and you.

Cheers

 

I'm old enough to remember when FSLatAm had "Football Lusitanio" on. I'm going to miss it if this really goes through.

 

I have a classmate who plays pro-basketball in Italy and he makes close to that amount. He's not a star, he's had stints in the NBA Summer Leagues, but never in the league, but still you'd think Freddy would demand a higher salary than that.

 

From the first post in the thread...

5 years ago if you told anyone here MLS's eventual transfer fee for Freddy would be only two million everyone would have considered that dissapointing, am I wrong?

 

Not me... £1 mil is still a good amount to a boy who hasn't proven himself against europes best on a weekly basis.

 

It depends on how much time was left on his contract. I think the $2m may be a little lower than expectations, but not much. Americans don't have clout yet.

 

I hope this doesn't get much media attention over here. I think the timing of this deal was bad for MLS. The most known player in the league (before Beckham) is moving on to Europe.

MLS doesn't need the image of a feeder league, not now at least, not when they had the upper hand and interest is at an all-time high.

 

Sorry, but this is the most nonsensical post I've read since I registered on this site.

1. The IFFHS rankings are complete and utter bullshit. They have Sevilla ranked at #1 and Barcelona ranked at #10. This should already tell you that it lacks any sort of credibility. They also seem to think that Boca Juniors are stronger than A.C Milan, Liverpool, Man U, et al.

2. While the general average attendance for the Liga is quite appalling, Benfica has the highest average attendance in the whole of Portugal. In the 2006-2007 season, they had an average of 39,000 and peaked at 62,000. And when you consider that Portugal has a population about the size of Michigan's, the numbers make a little more sense.

3. According to UEFA's National League ranking, the Portuguese Liga is ranked 6, behind the Bundesliga and ahead of the Eredivisie- the league that most people thought he should go to. He will also spend his very 1st season gaining Champions League experience, and one day could possibly even star in it (He has 5 years doesn't he?). That could enhance his stock far higher than the MLS could ever do. If he has a good performance against the top clubs in the world, what is stopping one of them from picking up the 18 year old Adu?

4. You say Benfica isn't comparable to the better teams in the EPL? Oh you mean the same Benfica that made it to the 2005-2006 Champions League Quarterfinals, and beat Liverpool both home and way while doing so, only to lose to the eventual Champions Barcelona? Granted they aren't one of the big names like Real Madrid, Man Utd etc, they are still one of the best teams in the world (surely better than any team in the MLS).

5. To tie in with the 4th point: you say Adu isn't among the better teams. I assume you mean the unrealistic chance of him signing to a team like Chelsea or Bayern Munich. This kid has offered nothing on a domestic level- and I mean nothing. He is lucky to be picked up by a team that are perennial CL participants. They are signing him solely off hype, U20 World Cup performance, and potential. As I've explained before, Benfica are among the top 2 sides, in the 6th best league in Europe. It's better he tries his hand here first, instead of jumping into La Liga or the EPL and finishing off his career completely. The competition isn't the best in the world, but it is still a bigger test than the MLS, and it will improve his game.

6. Salary: As I've stated before, Adu hasn't offered anything to say he deserves big money. He underperforms in the MLS for goodness sake. This is just a start-up salary. I'm sure other young players of comparable talent are receiving the same amount of money. When he proves his worth, of course his salary will go higher and higher as will his stock, and he will eventually attract suitors from one of the "bigger leagues".

7. Yes, this is definately a good move by Adu. I don't see why you would rather have him rot another year on a ************ team, in a ************ league after a stellar performance in the U20 World Cup when his buzz just started to pick up again. Makes no sens whatsoever.

 

How can you say a "lateral" move? Benfica is better than any MLS side, will be playing CL football this year, and goes against some pretty good competition...I find it hard to believe the Portuguese league is less than the Paraguay league...as a matter of fact, I don't care what Fox says, that's complete crap!

This is a good move for Freddy...a good attacking league that will develop him and get him ready to move to Spain...

 

posts like this make me wonder why I even bother sometimes... I am going to assume you never heard of Benfica until the Adu transfer rumors started

 

So what develops you into a better player:

playing on a D (RSL) team against teams (all of MLS) week in week out that are equal or better then your current team or:

Playing on an A team like Benfica and beating up on the rest of the Portugese league(B/c level teams) week in week out with the occasional match against Porto?

I just find it interesting how in Europe the best players always go to th best teams and they always look good because they are always playing weaker competition.

I think there is something to be said for the parity in MLS but I could see how a situation like the one Adu will be entering into in Benfica can really help him develop.

 

Huge Benfica fan here. I'm stoked that Adu is signing up for O Glorioso.

To temper our expectations with European Football, I must point out that Benfica will only be playing Champions League Football if they get through the Third Qualifying Round in mid-August.

VIVA O GLORIOSO!

-Chris

 

I think this is a great move for Freddy. 18 and 550,000 a year for 5 plus bonuses in Euope.

MLS isn't exactly respected anywhere in the world... MLS hasn't been able to properly develop him... Euopean clubs have a history of developing players... Feddy has tremendous talent and showed a little part of that in the U-20 world cup...

I really think that Freddy will excel under their system and will break out and become one of the best at his postion within the next 6 years.

 

Freddy Adu has ALWAYS stated that his dream is to play in Europe. And sooner rather than later. At this point the money is probably secondary to finding the right opportunity. Besides, the kid has aready made a few million dollars in salary and endorsements in his career.

The bottom line is that the EPL or SPL were not going to happen. Adu had NO chance of getting a UK work permit. So that considerably limits his options doesn't it. I always felt that Holland would be his first stop in Europe. But Freddy's game is really more suited to the Latin style. So Portugal and Benfica might be the right fit for him. Great club. Great stadium. And a real chance to play Champion's League or UEFA Cup football.

Good luck Freddy Adu!

 

It's a shame in a way the anyone HAS to go to Europe to improve their abilities. That said, he should get better as a player, hopefully a benefit to the USNT in the future.

 

Most players have a higher salary than that at the top three teams in Portugal, if that is the true salary he is getting then I guess he is happy with it and is getting more money through bonus. If he does well, I am sure he'll get his contract reviewed.

Benfica is better than most teams in the Premier League, I am a Porto supporter, but over the years in European competition, Portuguese teams have beaten English teams regularly. Benfica may be only weaker than Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Tottenham are slightly inferior to them... and all the other teams are. Celtic are also inferior to Benfica... last season Benfica beat Celtic 3-0 in the CL.

I guess you don't watch much soccer, because to think Newcastle is better than Benfica is just so ridiculous. You can't also base yourself on a ranking that doesn't reflect the reality, Sevilla tops that ranking.

The ranking you should be looking at is the UEFA club ranking, based on the results of teams over the last 5 seasons.

Again, the Portuguese league is #6 in the UEFA country rankings, based on the results of the last 5 seasons, ahead of Holland and just after Germany! You are insane to even compare the Portuguese league to any of the ones you mentioned.

The average attendence is low, but this is a very small country, only 10-11 million people here. Benfica gets around 40,000 on average during the season and it sells out on big nights, this means, over 60,000 people. Porto has a similar average and even Sporting is over 30,000.

I can only say that he will surely be given opportunities, especially because of the hype surrounding him, the supporters want to see him... if he does well, he will continue to get time regardless of the results, but if Benfica doesn't have the best of starts and Adu doesn't convince then he will sttrugle.

Benfica has brought in many new players, especially after selling their star player Simão, for over $25 million. Two players from the Argentina U-20 team were signed, for roughly $7 million. One of them a left winger. So I think Adu will be fighting with this guy and another young player for a place... but I am not sure Benfica will use the same tactic as last year, Simão was very influential, so there is a big hole to fill.

Just as a curiosity, the top three teams together this season have sold players, the sum of the fees involved is over $125 million. I wonder how many leagues outside the top 3 or 4 in Europe have that kind of talent to export.

 

I was under the impression that SLB would be loaning him out to another team, any truth to the rumors?

 

Wasn't Mchael bradley making something like 400K at SC Heerenveen?

 

That's not true, it can't be. Adu is being so hyped on the press in Portugal (as any Benfica transfer or possible transfer is)... so he will play for Benfica, at least until January, when the transfer market re-opens, if he didn't play much by that time then we could possibly see him loaned out, possibly even back to the MLS.

 

Dude, how can MLS not be a feeder league with the crap wages that they pay the vast majority of players? If I'm a talented young soccer player, my aspiration is not to spend my whole career at MLS making 200K a year.

 

A key part you're leaving out is that while training at Benfica, Adu will be going up against a much higher aggregate level of talent than he'll face against any MLS team.

If you ask players at clubs like Chelsea, they'll tell you that the scrimmages in practice are often more competitive than the actual games.

In terms of development, I'd much rather have Adu facing quality competition every day than the low-talent hackfest that he'll find in MLS.