Where In The World Is Freddy Adu?

Since his Major League Soccer debut in 2004 at the tender age of 14, big things have been expected of Freddy Adu but he has never quite lived up to the great expectations of many soccer fans. Since the early promise in his performances for D.C. United, Adu’s career has gradually stagnated before coming to a complete standstill upon his move to Europe. Still just 21, the youngster currently finds himself on loan at Turkish Second Division side Caykur Rizespor from parent club Benfica, having already failed in loan spells at Monaco, Belenenses in Portugal and Aris Thessaloniki in Greece. The question is, why has such an obvious talent failed to develop since his move to Lisbon?

Since leaving Real Salt Lake, Adu has been competing with established internationals such as Simao, Pablo Aimar and Rui Costa in the first team at Benfica while also vying with the immense talents of Argentinian youngster Angel Di Maria, who has since joined Real Madrid, for a space in the squad. This competition is too great for a player as young and inexperienced as Adu and it was inevitable that he would not get much playing time. The same can also be said of his loan move to Monaco because, although it was a wise decision to send him out for first team experience (especially when the club’s chairman specially arranged his loan agreement), they too boasted established internationals in most of their positions and he was always going to have to wait for a chance to impress.

Why then did he fail to make the grade with Belenenses the following season when he was up against less competition? His time with the club was jinxed from the start as he picked up an injury during the first half of his debut for the club, and despite going on to recover from the injury and making eight further starting appearances, he failed to score a single goal and the club’s new manager Toni released him from his loan in December. Adu’s failure with Belenenses can be put down to bad luck, but in a similar situation with Aris, he still failed to recapture his best form so it begs the question, do his problems lie off the field?

Many American soccer pundits have raised the issue of Adu’s attitude and how he appears to thrive when he is the centre of attention and it appears justified. At D.C., he was the team’s star and he provided a focal point for all of their positive attacking play and, with his developing reputation, the crowd were constantly clamouring for their star man. This was also the case at Salt Lake although to a lesser degree, but since his move to Europe he has become a small fish in a big pond and in addition to his “me-first” mentality, his current ability just doesn’t command the regular starting places that his older, more experienced competitors do.

Now, with Aris having sent Adu back to Benfica and Yiannis Mihalitsios deciding that he can do without him, the youngster faces an uphill battle to resurrect his career as Rizespor were the only club willing to take a chance on him, and the only club small enough to persuade Benfica to part with the youngster without paying a fee. They were impressed having seen him on trial alongside Edson Buddle at Ingolstadt during the German side’s winter break.

Should he still be unable to make the grade in Turkey, this would leave him with two options; either he can return to the U.S. with his tail between his legs and work on rebuilding his career and getting himself back into international contention with a franchise willing to take a risk. Or alternatively, he could look to make it in a smaller European league that has proved successful for U.S. development like Benny Feilhaber, Michael Parkhurst and Clarence Goodson in Scandinavia.

Having looked at success stories such as Charlie Davies, a move to a less reputable European league could do wonders for Adu’s confidence and game time. He would be a star player in many leagues, a guaranteed starter and a focal point for the attack with whichever team he were to sign for, giving him the confidence and attention he was accustomed to in D.C. with a lower level of expectation that would see him potentially thrive. Success there would put him in the shop window for a transfer to a bigger European club, a triumphant return home or even a recall to the national side.

If it were my decision, despite the temptation to look at Landon Donovan’s example of returning to the MLS to rebuild his reputation and re-establish himself in the national side, I would take this latest chance in Europe and try to make it work. If that does not work, then I would try to release myself from the contract at Benfica and consider a move to a less-reputable league as a last chance in Europe. Yes he is just 21 but by the same token, he has been in the game for seven years and it is time to grow up. At least that way, if he doesn’t succeed it won’t be for a lack of effort and there will always be a franchise willing to take him on when he decides to return.