Freddy Adu has joined the Greek team Aris Salonica making it his sixth professional team since 2004. After all the hype that surrounded Freddy as a youngster I expected by now that he would be playing in one of the elite european leagues: either the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, or atleast the German Bundesliga. But no, Freddy is playing for a team that I can't even find on FIFA 2010 for my xBox. Now I wouldn't consider Freddy a bust yet because he's only 20, but he has definitely not lived up to expectations. Adu was supposed to be the savior for US soccer. At age 10, Adu was offered a six-figure deal with Italian powerhouse AC Milan, but his mom wouldn't sign the permission trip and wanted him to get an education. By forgoing this offer Freddy developed his soccer game in the American based MLS which without a doubt slowed his progession. To explain these circumstances, I think we should pull a Danny Almonte and consider the authenticity of Adu's birth certificate. Freddy is exactly the same weight now as he was at age 13: 5'8 140 lbs. Interesting...
To make things more relevant to non-soccer fans, African soccer players seem to be similar to Latin American baseball players. Potential is everything: the skills of a 14 year old can make them millions, but the same skills of a 21 year are worthless. Adu seems to fall into this category.
Like I said, Freddy shouldn't be considered a bust quite yet. He has showed signs of brilliance on the US soccer development teams but nothing that will make him start for the Varsity squad in South Africa this summer. He needs to take lessons from our starting forward, Jozy Altidore, who is just 20 years old and plays in the English Premier League. Altidore is the one who scored the first goal against Spain last summer, the number 1 team in the world.
Poor Freddy, his mom may have ruined his life.
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