Follow up on a 13 year old sensation - Freddy Adu

Vinay

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What's happening to Freddy Adu? That guy seems to be the next 'King' of football. He must be considering clubs in Europe, I would imagine, but, any idea which one he is inclining for.

He's one I would love to see in our ranks, if he is that good at 13!!!!
 
He rescently played for USA Under 17's and scored 2 and set up the other, while i think he will be the best player in the world, i dont think it would be wise to sign him for another 3-4 years.
 
As was said he made his competitive debut last week for the U17s, helping them qualify for the world finals in Finland this August.
There are plenty of video clips of those three games up online, and most of it Adu's attacking flair, particularly one run where he beats 5 or 6 players and shoots off the underside of the bar.
It will be interesting to see how he does against better teams in Finland and if foreign coaches and agents are as impressed as the americans.

He turns 14 in May, the current plan is for him to remain with the U17 residency plan in Florida where he trains while completing high school early at 15 -Summer 2004. The popular view is that he will then join the MLS to play a few seasons there(D.C. United-his home team) before going to Europe at 17.

Maybe he will impress at the U17 finals and United will make a good offer for him(red tape permitting). IMO he would develop better with a european club academy than being whisked into the professional ranks of the MLS at 15 just to boost the image of that league. Which is a strong possibility- because of the huge interest in him and the MLS's need for exposure. How would his confidence be effected by suddenly playing men with all that expectation/hype upon him, getting targeted and chopped down, and the risk of burn-out.

14 might be young to move abroad, but he is already living away from home in Florida, and the flying time to Manchester wouldn't be too much different. ;)
I think United would have to be interested in him not just being a rare young talent but because United is serious about increasing its US audience.
 
Originally posted by Gabe:
<strong>I think United would have to be interested in him not just being a rare young talent but because United is serious about increasing its US audience.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I thought the guy was a Ghanaian, not a yank. Are there no agents around who have unearthed ten year olds or seven year olds we should be setting up million pound contracts with? How about Brooklyn? He's 4 already isn't he? Or has Wenger already signed him up?
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Originally posted by Gabe:
<strong> How would his confidence be effected by suddenly playing men with all that expectation/hype upon him, getting targeted and chopped down, and the risk of burn-out.</strong><hr></blockquote>

well he scored two goals in a friendly between the under 17 national team and the chicago fire, oh yeah they won 2-1
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Originally posted by fortyseven:
<strong>

I thought the guy was a Ghanaian, not a yank. Are there no agents around who have unearthed ten year olds or seven year olds we should be setting up million pound contracts with? </strong><hr></blockquote>


He is ghanaian, but now he's an american citizen and has played his first competitive game for the US so under current rules he's tied to the US. I can see the humour in it, the first top quality yank footballer isn't really a yank, but plenty of countries and individuals have made use of this rule. The most recent was that argentine winger(name?) that played so well for Juve against United, he was never called up for a competitive game for his home country, but he holds an italian passport and Italy played him, and that ties him for good.

There is plenty of hype around this kid, no one can hype like the yanks, and he may not develop that last degree that makes a great player. But he is looking very good for a 13yo, athletic (but no freak- has a good frame so physique shouldn't hold him back), his strengths are his ball skils, and awareness.

A far as offering a 12 or 14 year old a contract I would think the risk of the kid not making it, getting injured or whatever would be reflected in the size of any offer. I don't think we are talking millions, Adu got well known after he played with an american youth team in a tounament in Italy when he was 10 and 11, both times voted the best player, then came an offer from Inter Milan of $250K to assist his development, until he could join the club when he was older.
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Originally posted by Gabe:
<strong>BTW I heard the scouse and barcodes are tracking Adu.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Barcodes too? Heard originally just the scousers. This would be a good time to go swoop in and sign him, right under their noses.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
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Originally posted by ManUtd.USA:
<strong>


Barcodes too? Heard originally just the scousers. This would be a good time to go swoop in and sign him, right under their noses.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Well if he plays the U17 finals in August(the biggest scouting event on the calendar :) ) and plays as he has been playing, then there will be some serious offers.
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Originally posted by epgino159:
<strong>

well he scored two goals in a friendly between the under 17 national team and the chicago fire, oh yeah they won 2-1</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes, I heard about those games against some MLS opposition and also against a senior national selection.
Still those friendlies don't represent the aggression and impact of a professional game. Young players need to be introduced carefully to that intensity of competition, otherwise they can lose a lot of confidece and the enjoyment factor which is so important to a youngsters' development is lost.
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Originally posted by Gabe:
<strong>

Well if he plays the U17 finals in August(the biggest scouting event on the calendar :) ) and plays as he has been playing, then there will be some serious offers.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wonder how many teams can make viable offers for him without going into debt? My guess is not many, but hey who knows.
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The way Adu is developing, there can only be positives in us trying to woo even now... It would seem though, that his family would not be too keen on his moving outside the US at this time.

Do let's hope he does sign for us within the next three years. He could the youngest player to play in a World Cup in 3 years time, probably.
 
Originally posted by ManUtd.USA:
<strong>

Wonder how many teams can make viable offers for him without going into debt? My guess is not many, but hey who knows.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Lets be realistic, any spending in a 14yo has a good degree of speculation in it, so how big can the offer be?
For example the rumoured 250K offered by Inter for Adu was at age 11 over 7 years.
United are rumoured to have offered 5mil for Rooney(at almost 17yo) last Summer 2002, before he emerged, but at that stage he was already well developed physically and technically,and had a strong sense for how the game played.
Any european club would face stiff competition from the MLS who are desperate to get Adu at least for a season or two(begining 2004 they say), and then of course his price will shoot up.
But he is a special talent so the big clubs will be involved, he won't go undetected to Herenveen or West Ham. ;)
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Originally posted by Vinay:
<strong>
The way Adu is developing, there can only be positives in us trying to woo even now... It would seem though, that his family would not be too keen on his moving outside the US at this time.
.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Right, his Mum(Dads not in the picture) thinks he should get an education in case his football career doesn't materialise. She is a cashier at Home Depot so obviously they're not wealthy, and any career move for Freddy would have to consider the family harmony(he has a younger brother too).
He probably won't leave the U17 residency until Summer 2004 when he's 15 and finished high school.
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<a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=261276&cc=5901" target="_blank">Here's a recent soccernet article about Freddy.</a>

Doesn't really give much insight on his game, it really mostly talks about the U.S.'s desire to succeed at football.
 
As the above article says the US does have excellent sports science and coaching, which can be applied to football. And if some quality american players appear it will help the sport immensely in the US.

Another soccernet article: <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=261422&cc=5739" target="_blank">http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=261422&cc=5739</a>

He is an exciting young player but the media are getting carried away really. The U17 world championship in August will be a good measure of his ability.
 
Originally posted by Gabe:
<strong>The most recent was that argentine winger(name?) that played so well for Juve against United, he was never called up for a competitive game for his home country, but he holds an italian passport and Italy played him, and that ties him for good.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Cambrosini (sp?)

Right-winger. He's pretty good, and Italy are short on quality wingers.
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Originally posted by zXe:
<strong><a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=261276&cc=5901" target="_blank">Here's a recent soccernet article about Freddy.</a>

Doesn't really give much insight on his game, it really mostly talks about the U.S.'s desire to succeed at football.</strong><hr></blockquote>

It does talk about how he nonchalantly looped the ball above his head to leave his marker rooted to the spot... And how he does it with either foot! We cannot let this guy out of grasps... He has to be ours one day. Please! <img src="graemlins/angel.gif" border="0" alt="[Angel]" />
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What is it with the weird american rules were clubs have to make a bid through the major league and not to a particular club. Most sports stars will not move from america until they are done in high school and college but "soccer" seems to be making an exception to this rule. It will be interesting but then the same hype surrounded landon donavon too when he was very young still!!
 
Originally posted by overpoli4mel:
<strong>]but then the same hype surrounded landon donavon too when he was very young still!!</strong><hr></blockquote>
cant trust midgets

<img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[No No]" />
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the league is run as a single entity, meaning that the league owns all of the player contracts

really shitty if you ask me, but then again i dont pay attention to Major League Shit either

if we were smart we would try to sign him now and loan him to the MLS team he wants to play for for a couple of seasons and already have him tied to us
 
Originally posted by beergod:
<strong>the league is run as a single entity, meaning that the league owns all of the player contracts

really shitty if you ask me, but then again i dont pay attention to Major League Shit either

if we were smart we would try to sign him now and loan him to the MLS team he wants to play for for a couple of seasons and already have him tied to us</strong><hr></blockquote>

Its hard to make the time to watch MLS when there is plenty of superior football from europe and south america on the box.

Strange thing about MLS is that two men basically own it;
Phil Anschutz(who owns Home Depot): LA Galaxy, DC United, Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, MetroStars, and San Jose Earthquakes.
Lamar Hunt: Kansas City Wizards, Columbus Crew, and Dallas Burn.

United are getting more connected to the US market and fanbase; they have ties with Nike of course, Budweiser, Pepsi, and the Yankees(who are a lot like the United of baseball, the wealthy club that stays at the top and everyone wants to see beat). And even united brass were suprised how big the demand for United is with the quick sell-out of the US tour.

From the business angle, and unsavory though it may sound, Adu could turn out a commodity(US 'soccer' fans are already going Adu crazy and he hasn't even done anything yet) on the scale of a Beckham, which is why United will no doubt follow his development with some interest. Conviently United ally Nike are funding the national youth camp where Adu trains.

Its rumoured that he will finish high school early and sign for the MLS summer 2004 at 15, making him the youngest MLS player ever. Apparently his family would prefere him staying closer to home being so young, which favours him joining the MLS. It would be smart to try sign him before the MLS get him and loan him back to the MLS; not only saving on a hefty fee, but allowing him to stay closer to home. Also United would then have more say in how he was handled- one MLS coach said Adu is ready to play now at 14, which raises the question; how much do they really know about training youngsters, especially in light of David Moyes' recent concern over burning out young Wayne Rooney by playing too many minutes.
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Originally posted by Slippy:
<strong>I never seen the boy play, only hear (a lot) about him. Could anyone describe what kind of a player he is, please.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Read the web links earlier in the page and you might get a glimpse. :)
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A little update: after taking the piss out of a Newcastle youth(17-19) selection playing in Dallas recently, Adu has got the barcodes even more interested. United?
 
Freddy has talent like the US military has things that go POW! Newsweek recently reported on a typical move: 'running at full speed, he fielded a pass on the outside of his left foot, flicked it up and over his head and over the defender and corralled the ball without breaking stride. "I couldn't believe my eyes - and then he goes and does it again, this time with the other foot," said [his Under-17 coach] John Ellinger'. <hr></blockquote>

SIGN THE KID SAF!!! SIGN HIM! LOL <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
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Originally posted by Candona:
<strong>

SIGN THE KID SAF!!! SIGN HIM! LOL <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

You think we should not? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
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He is only 13yrs. Yet.......HE IS 5'8!!! Is he geneticly modified?
 
Originally posted by Candona:
<strong>He is only 13yrs. Yet.......HE IS 5'8!!! Is he geneticly modified?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Is that big for a 13yo? His younger brother is even bigger :D

<a href="http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s70/st23943.htm" target="_blank">Anyway the barcodes think he's alright</a>
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we already have a team mate of him from the U17 national team heading to Olt Trafford!(jonathan spector)
Later he can be used to help and bring Adu to manchester! :D
 
Originally posted by Gabe:
<strong>

Is that big for a 13yo? His younger brother is even bigger :D

<a href="http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s70/st23943.htm" target="_blank">Anyway the barcodes think he's alright</a></strong><hr></blockquote>

The recent tournament was the Dallas Cup. The US team came in second. Newcastle was fourth. United had a Under 14 team there, but they failed to advance past the first round.
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Originally posted by Nico:
<strong>we already have a team mate of him from the U17 national team heading to Olt Trafford!(jonathan spector)
Later he can be used to help and bring Adu to manchester! :D </strong><hr></blockquote>

I would bank on that too :D
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<a href="http://www.callistonet.com/goals/u17/u17.htm" target="_blank">http://www.callistonet.com/goals/u17/u17.htm</a>

click on small "ADU" text's at the top for videos of him, not bad for a 13 year old.
 
Finally a United-Adu rumour :D

<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/grant_wahl/news/2003/05/01/wahl_insider/" target="_blank">Journalist gives Fergie Adu tip</a>

According to this writer he gave SAF the number of Adu' advisor, the source is pretty good- sports Illustrated, but the story sounds a little strange because half the football world must know about this kid, its unlikely Fergie would need to be tipped off.
 
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