Sun, Jun 17, 2007 page22

• US soccer's marvel dreams of Europe

  • AP
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  Now that he's 18, Freddy Adu is eligible to fulfill his dream of playing in Europe.

  US soccer's former child prodigy is still a member of Major League Soccer's (MLS) Real Salt Lake and is preparing to play for the US in the Under-20 World Cup this summer.

  After that, he could be saying goodbye to the MLS for a shot at playing on the elite fields of Europe.

  

  Real Salt Lake midfielder Freddy Adu, left, takes to the air against Colorado Rapids defender Dan Gargan in their Major League Soccer match in Commerce City, Colorado, on May 10.

  PHOTO: AP

  Hello? Hola? Bonjour? Anybody in Europe still interested?

  "You want to challenge yourself. That's where everybody wants to go," Adu said. "For me to get to the next level, that would be really going to Europe and continuing my learning curve at the next level."

  Adu turned 18 on June 2, making him eligible under the regulations governing international soccer to transfer to a club outside the US. To get the attention of European clubs, he'll have to perform well as captain of the US at his third U20 World Cup next month.

  US coach Thomas Rongen said no other US player has played in the tourney more than twice because there aren't many 14-year-olds who are ready to face the world's top prospects as Adu did in 2003.

  Four years ago, Adu was the future of US soccer.

  This summer Adu is a veteran -- if that can be said of an 18-year-old -- who can re-establish himself as a phenomenal talent and shake the label that has been building for three disappointing years in MLS.

  Rongen wants Adu to relax and not worry about whether the teams abroad are as interested as they were when Adu was a 14-year-old standout.

  Adu believes his feet are every bit as nimble as they were four years ago -- he just hasn't had many chances to show it lately.

  Playing in the smallest market in MLS, Adu's profile has faded since he was traded to Salt Lake by DC United in December. Through 10 games, Real Salt Lake was the only winless team in the league. Adu has just one goal and his teammates have combined for only six.

  A good showing in the U20 World Cup in Canada may revive interest in Adu. His MLS career, so far, hasn't lived up to the hype since DC United took him with the top overall draft pick when he was 14.

  "I'm not going to worry about anything else right now, but to focus on playing and let my agent deal with the other stuff," he said.

  In his first 96 MLS games, Adu had 12 goals. His relationship with DC gradually deteriorated.

  Adu wasn't happy with the way United was playing him, mostly on the wing instead of his preferred position in midfield. He also had some very public clashes with his coach.

  Real Salt Lake went after the frustrated teen, knowing his 18th birthday was coming and he would be eligible to transfer to a European team if there was an offer.

  "Everybody wants to go to Europe because that's where the sport is No. 1. Here it's about sixth on the sports scale," he said. "It's where the passion is. Everything."

  Adu's agent, Richard Motzkin, said there is nothing on the horizon. He said there are always talks with international clubs involving players with a profile like Adu, but wouldn't say who is interested.

  Adu worked out last autumn with English Premier League club Manchester United.

  Although he hasn't met expectations, those expectations may have been a little unrealistic. Adu is still barely an adult.

  When he joined Real in December, Adu said that he still hoped to play for a European team.

  He also said he expected to play out the season with Salt Lake.
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