Not really news, but since it does have a Hudson quote I figured I'd post it. It seems to say that Freddy Adu may be coming to MLS, specifically DC United, in the future. It sounded like they meant before the 2003 season ends. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/5084356.htm -Tron
The first American soccer player they have ever seen with the potential as a pro in Europe? Maybe they should have been looking a little harder. It's not as if no American has ever played pro ball in Europe before.
I suppose you could make an argument for 2003 based on "and there are whispers he will join MLS before long, provided he can play for D.C. and continue going to school in Potomac, Md.," Not to sound Clintonesque but it depends on how you define "before long" A year? Two years? Also does the MLS have a minimum age limit? Can't sign a contract until age x?
No set age limit, but there are precedents. I believe DaMarcus Beasley was the youngest a few years back at 16 or 17. Then that age was beaten by Convey, then Santino, then Capano and now Eddie Gaven. He's barely 16. So the speculation a while back was that if Freddy joined MLS he'd certainly do so at a youngest-ever age, so that would likely be before his 16th birthday. Freddy turns 14 in June. So if he waits until the 2005 SuperDraft he'd be about the right age for that projection. The problem is, that Europe has now noticed American Youth, and frankly, Freddy's as good as any. It used to be only US players living in Europe got the nod, guys like Zak Whitbred in the Liverpool's system and Frankie Simek in Arsenal's are current examples. Now, teams are actively scouting the US. Of the current 16 year olds in the US that haven't lived in Europe Memo Gonzalez had received offers from big clubs in the English Premiership, Bundesliga and La Liga before accepting MLS at age 16. Danny Karbassiyoon accepted an offer to join Arsenal just recently. Jonathon Spector has tentatively accepted an offer from Manchester United. Freddy Adu is already as good as those guys. So the likelihood of MLS being outbid by a European club by 2005 is very very high. Frankly, if he plays in the U-17 Championships like we hope, I expect him to receive an offer soon thereafter. Therefore if MLS is going to land him at all, their best chance would be before the Championships, which means this season. Here's an interesting thread with some background info in the Juniors Forum: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31318 -Tron
Ah, didn't know that about Zak. But my understanding was that he was and is British having spent most of his life there. In any event, he may have been born in the USA, but didn't live most of his life here nor was he discovered here. Thanks for the info though, that's interesting. -Tron
Europe may have to wait for Adu Considering he just moved to the US with only his mother, I doubt that we'll see him leave the US and her that quickly. He is still a child and is just becoming a US citizen. His mother probably has an incredible influence over his decision making when it comes to soccer. The fact that he is on an accelerated scholastic program also makes me think that he has priorities outside of soccer and isn't tempted so much by the fame and success a career in Europe could bring him. As for him coming to United. I don't know what control we would have over him. We'd have to have the 1st pick in the draft again, and I don't think that we'll "earn" it again. We'd have to trade for it, and would be a serious trade. New Jersey wanted Esky and Esky had said that he would have liked to play for the Metros, but that didn't change the fact that we had the 1st pick in the draft. Maybe because he is under the age of 18 and all contracts with him would have to go through is mother, she might be able to arange an agreement that... "if you [MLS] want Freddy, he has to play for DC United... that's my final answer" As for MLS having laws about these things... I would imagine that MLS has to follow the laws established by the Department of Labor. Under the age of 16 requires several restrictions to the number of hours and the time at which the child is allowed to work. I think that young Olympic atheletes are sponsored and not paid by organizations. That's how they get around the work permit laws.
DC has a much better track record of developing young players than New England does, but I'm not sure I'd want a 15-year-old Freddy Adu on my team unless he was going to get significant minutes. Would you really want a potentially great national team player sitting on the bench and not even getting to play in reserve games? IMHO he would be better off staying at Bradenton and playing with the U17s/20s or moving to Europe where he can play competitive youth/reserve matches every week. Unless, of course, you think that at 15 he would see a lot of the field. Which he might, because it's hard to say exactly how good he will be in 2 years...
Yeah, but from what we've read of his family, I think there's a pretty good chance that a competitive but 2nd best MLS offer would work. Esp. if Adu wants to make WC 2006. It's unlikely but possible if he's playing in MLS at the time. It's less likely if he's tearing up the U-19 reserves for Real Madrid.
He's changed his name to "LeBron," drives a Hummer and wears a vintage '62 Uwe Seeler jersey, and can't explain how he can afford such things.
I think if he was tearing up the U-19 reserves at Real he'd get every bit as much consideration as he would if he were playing in MLS. There can't be that much difference between, say, the Madrid U-19 reserves and the Fulham reserves. And Eddie Lewis got more than just a look for 2002.
Lewis was a known quantity to Arena who was playing below himself with the Fulham reserves. He had first team experience in the past. He was also a type of player that Arena wanted on the team. Adu is none of these things. He's also much younger and far less experienced. He has no professional experience, let alone first team experience. If he were on the Real U-19s I doubt that he'd get any look at all. In addition, the logic of your post defies all recent trends with younger players. The perception now is that for young players to get any look whatsoever for the full national team today they have to be playing (indeed, starting) in MLS. Just ask Twellman.
Boy, Hudson really kissed his butt in the article. "One in ten million." I gotta see this kid in action myself either on TV or in person. Adu on track to be the youngest player in MLS history. Plus to see him at RFK to develop in a DCU uniform would be a jackpot. Spoiled DCU fans. All these youngsters coming into MLS under 17 years old I dont know. I think thier skills will be there, but mentally may not. Adu needs a nickname. How about Fast Freddie Adu blew by U.
As long as we don't see him wearing an Italian club's jersey while he's relaxing after a U-17 game, I won't worry.. I just have a felling that his first pro contract will be in the MLS for family reasons..There will be plenty of chance, in his eyes and his mother's, to make the big bucks and play in Europe later. He has stated that playing in Europe is a dream of his, though. The Euro teams will lobby him with all sorts of reasons he should go abroad first, of course.
I agree with DigitalTron in that I think MLS needs to sign him ASAP if they want him to play professionally in the US. After this year he will have done everything possible with the U-17 team and it would be counter-progressive for him to wait for the 2005 Superdraft. Depending on his performance in the U-17 WC he'll receice potentially any number of offers from Europe, some of which may be very hard to turn down, even harder than the 750 grand offered by Inter Milan however long ago. I can see Adu being drafted next year but if he goes any longer without a professional club I think it will be seriously damaging to his growth.
Normally, I'd be of the philosophy of: let the kid be a kid for c*****sakes! But I think there are a couple of factors here: 1. He's a very good student. 2. His mom sees the value in having him train with serious players and decent coaches. 3. While I think she sees the value of Bradenton and Ellinger, she is so commited to family that being a part of DCU is something she'd probably see has preferable b/c he'd be home (separate from money issues or higher level of play). From MLS's perspective, I think they fear that once he plays in a serious tournament (youth WC) where there are benchmarks to use against him, his price will go up and there will be many more appeals to him. His mom may be thinking that it will be better to pre-empt all that mess--get him signed now to MLS so no-one is badgering him to sign anything, finish HS, maybe even start a year of college (if he can accelerate school) and be home (except for travel for matches).
I thought Freddy Adu is 13 and has a birthday soon. I suspect the comment about him being 15 is assuming he is added in a year. He will become a citizen in February when his mom receives her citizenship.
Re: Re: Latest Freddy Rumor "Frederick the Great" "Saint Frederick" "1,000 points of (f)light" "The One" "#10" No pressure to the kid or anything, just if he doesn't win the world cup for us back to back to back I'll never ever ever be happy again. J/K.