REAL SALT LAKE: Adu leaves team
By Michael C. Lewis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 07/28/2007 04:06:33 PM MDT

Posted: 4:10 PM- Freddy Adu is gone.

The 18-year-old Real Salt Lake striker has struck a transfer deal with Benfica of Portugal, and boarded a plane to his new home on Saturday - just hours before RSL begins the second half of its Major League Soccer season against New England at Rice Eccles Stadium.

Team spokesman Trey FitzGerald said Adu was scheduled to travel to his family home in Washington, D.C., before joining his mother and agent on a flight to Lisbon on Sunday. Adu is expected to sign a 5-year contract worth roughly the same as his $550,000 annual salary in MLS, with housing and car allowances and goal bonuses as part of the deal.

"They agreed to terms over the phone," FitzGerald said. "nothing has been signed, so I guess there's a .0001 percent chance that he could return. But I wouldn't expect it to happen."

Benfica will pay a $2 million transfer fee to MLS, and RSL will receive a major allocation worth $500,000 as its share of the compensation. In addition to the $350,000 of salary-cap room that Adu's departure will create, the major allocation will give coach Jason Kreis even more financial latitude in rebuilding a team that went 1-8-6 in the first half of its league season.

"We would like to thank Freddy for his time here and we wish him the best of luck," Kreis said in a statement the team is planning to release. But "there are a lot of new faces on this team that believe in each other, and as a result, we believe we have begun to move in the right direction."

With Adu out of the mix, strikers Robbie Findley and Alecko Eskandarian are expected to start for RSL against the Revs. Both among the six new players acquired since Kreis took over as coach nearly three months ago.

I am an American soccer fan, so for the sake of our national team I hope he plays well and develops his game. But this kid hasn't even proved he can play well in the MLS. I think he has a lot of natural skill but a low soccer IQ. I think he will get destroyed at the next level. What do you all think of him?

Adu sucks. Let's hope he improves his intelligence and consistency in Portugal (if this report is true).

Adu isn't bad, his team is terrible though.

He'll do well in Portugal, that and Spain suit him the best, possibly France. I can't see him in England, Germany or Italy, he'd be booted off the park.

He lead the U20 NT far. He was surrounded with good players that allowed him to show what he can do. Going to benfica (If true) will help him develop even more.

Now I hope Altidore follows him to europe. I hear he may be headed to England..

http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20070728&content_id=108452&vkey=pr_rsl&fext=.jsp&team=t121

Real Salt Lake Media Relations
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SALT LAKE CITY - The following statement from Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jason Kreis responds to today's absence of RSL MF Freddy Adu:

"Major League Soccer and Real Salt Lake have given permission to Freddy Adu to travel to Europe to continue discussions with Portuguese club Benfica. This is certainly a scenario that does not surprise us, and we would like to thank Freddy for his time here and wish him the best of luck.

"Our organization will continue to focus and concentrate on the second half of the MLS season, with our recent success against Everton and Boca Juniors serving as a springboard towards a fresh start. There are a lot of new faces on this team who believe in each other, and as a result think we have now begun to move in the right direction."

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He's coming to Portugal, apparently it's a 99% done deal, but never trusting, i still remember Robinho, Tomasson, etc...

About Adu, well, from what i've saw he looks a very promising player, nice technique, great control, speed and strength, maybe his motivation on the MLS isn't the best, and maybe that's the reason why he doesn't perform with the right consistency, because i believe it should be recognised by everyone that he does have qualities.

For Benfica this is a great deal (being true), by 2M € and if he shows his value in Portugal we could be selling him to England where he has many teams interested in him by a much higher value, it will also gets our club's name to a new market on the USA, amazing.

In the worst case scenario, Adu doesn't correspond to the hype everyone gave him, he's a flop, we just sold him back to the MLS where i believe he could always have clubs interested on his services.

Adu's a great player in the making, it's true he hasn't lived up to his hype but then again that's kinda hard to do when people are unfairly comparing you to Pele :| Adu does show flashes of brilliance now and then and if he adapts well and is given a fair shot then he will be an important part of the team. Hopefully he gets a chance to play in the CL in front of a packed Benfica crowd, it'll definitely be a step up from Salt Lake.

Don't be too surprised if he needs a while to adapt though, the Portuguese league isn't like MLS.. the refs are terrible and Adu is gonna get fouled a lot. He's also gonna have a much more critical press & fans to deal with..

freddy adu, i like him, good player and you can see the potential this kids got, the skills he showed in u20 gave a good glimpse of his skill, he was very instrumental for US in those wins. Good move for Benfica especially after offloading Simao. good signing especially for just 2 million for a young (18yrs) and talented player.

Adu is talented, but like most talented players, he most proly wont live up to this.. early hype and in his case, also, promotional/marketing game behind him. Maybe ill be proven wrong over time, but the chances are on my side. Meh, whatever :D

"Our organization will continue to focus and concentrate on the second half of the MLS season, with our recent success against Everton and Boca Juniors serving as a springboard towards a fresh start. There are a lot of new faces on this team who believe in each other, and as a result think we have now begun to move in the right direction."

Getting a draw in a friendly is a success?:$

honestly, why Portugal?

how is an American supposed to live in Portugal man :(

honestly, why Portugal?

how is an American supposed to live in Portugal man :(

?

seriously, what the **** was that supposed to mean :|

honestly, why Portugal?

how is an American supposed to live in Portugal man :(


wow, what a retarted post, plus i know me personally i would like to live in Lisbon rather then live in Utah...

Is that a joke? I would love to live in Portugal, especially as a star athlete for a club like Benfica. Everyone is tan, and the whole country is on the ocean! Girls a little hairy, but still hot.

honestly, why Portugal?

how is an American supposed to live in Portugal man :(

I'm gonna guess you've never been outside the states?

No, no.. Dont take it that Im talking Portugal down.

I was speaking from a footballers perspective, just thought that an American would be far better off in one of the British leagues.

haha you all suck if you still go "damn you retarded!" after seeing ":(" in my post :(

damn you guys are retarded :(

Glad to see he's finally (hopefully it will be settled in the next few days) moving on to Europe and to a big club like Benfica (Y). I wonder if he'll get his chance at the first team or if he'll be playing with the second team. It will be interesting to track his progress. I really hope he succeeds and turns into a stud.

No, no.. Dont take it that Im talking Portugal down.

I was speaking from a footballers perspective, just thought that an American would be far better off in one of the British leagues.

haha you all suck if you still go "damn you retarded!" after seeing ":(" in my post :(

damn you guys are retarded :(

"I'm AMERICAN and you can speak my language!"

That attitude works for us, and I don't see why it wouldn't in Portugal. If I spoke Portuguese and a confused Brazilian walked into my restaurant, I'd be practicing my Portuguese with him/her.

I hope that Porto doesn't remember to detour him... That's usually what happens when Benfica is about to sign someone...

Portugal may be the perfect place for Adu to start his career in Europe.

Adu just got to Lisbon right now, he'll see the facilities of the club, probably do the medicals, and then sign with us, i hope.

he better not turn into a skirt wearin faggot like Landan and come crying back as soon as he's unable to find his favorite brand of panties and cereal, man.


Get with the culture, snag up a big tittied, baby making hipped Portuguese broad, convert to Catholicism even, learn the language (given) and work yer damndest in getting yerself into that starting 11 and making a significant name for yerself on the European stage, man.


*takes up his sword of valor and throws it directly into the heart of the flame spewing Dragon*

I think he'll fail, but what do I know! :-puke:

i've never really seen him play so i don't know what do expect
if he's a good player then that's great
if not he was not expensive so it's not a big problem
anyway he's still very young so he'll surely need time to adapt to portuguese football which is much better than usa's soccer, so we can't make judgements without letting him show his ability and potential

http://www.record.pt/getimage.asp?tb=DESTAQUES&id=121357
Adu: "Sweet I can drink legally here now"

he better not turn into a skirt wearin faggot like Landan and come crying back as soon as he's unable to find his favorite brand of panties and cereal, man.


Get with the culture, snag up a big tittied, baby making hipped Portuguese broad, convert to Catholicism even, learn the language (given) and work yer damndest in getting yerself into that starting 11 and making a significant name for yerself on the European stage, man.


*takes up his sword of valor and throws it directly into the heart of the flame spewing Dragon*

No need to worry about this, He is in a whole other level than landon as far as attitude is concerned..

True story. Good for Freddy, a real step in development.

he better not turn into a skirt wearin faggot like Landan and come crying back as soon as he's unable to find his favorite brand of panties and cereal, man.


Get with the culture, snag up a big tittied, baby making hipped Portuguese broad, convert to Catholicism even, learn the language (given) and work yer damndest in getting yerself into that starting 11 and making a significant name for yerself on the European stage, man.


*takes up his sword of valor and throws it directly into the heart of the flame spewing Dragon*

Landon's always been a skirt wearing faggot. He's a fast skirt wearing faggot, but a skirt wearing faggot none-the-less.

Landon's always been a skirt wearing faggot. He's a fast skirt wearing faggot, but a skirt wearing faggot none-the-less.

LMAOOO. I remember how he got "homesick" while playing for Bayer Leverkusen...i cant believe he left to go back to the MLS.

while playing for Bayer Leverkusen

playing? I seem to have missed that while he was in Leverkusen. (H)

Fredy will do OK at Benfica.

Good luck to Adu...

He never really impressed at MLS, like he did for the U-20 national team. Heard he is earning as much as he did while playin in the states, which is weird because making the jump abroad also makes you more money. I guess he was overpaid.

playing? I seem to have missed that while he was in Leverkusen. (H)

Fredy will do OK at Benfica.

He played a LITTLE bit after the 2002 World Cup if I remember right, but it wasn't that much and he left that January.

Good luck to Adu...

He never really impressed at MLS, like he did for the U-20 national team. Heard he is earning as much as he did while playin in the states, which is weird because making the jump abroad also makes you more money. I guess he was overpaid.


Yeah I think he's making around the same. He made around 550,000 dollars per season in MLS, at Benfica he's getting around 400,000 Euros which roughly equals around the same, plus he'll be getting a car, house, and some other perks.

If he's successful he soon move off to Spain or England for the big bucks, for the most part playing in Portugal is a stepping stone to bigger leagues for good players.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/07/31/sports/adu.190.jpg

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site333/2007/0731/20070731__SOCAduBenfica~2_Gallery.jpg

:lui:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/07/31/sports/adu.190.jpg

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site333/2007/0731/20070731__SOCAduBenfica~2_Gallery.jpg

:lui:

is that the first team?

Yes, but there are two youths on that picture

good luck to freddy, i think he'll do alright. Portugal is a pretty competitive league, so this will be a good chance to prove himself

i like benfica's kits, but whats up with that sponsor? Looks like some kind of ******* frog

i like benfica's kits, but whats up with that sponsor? Looks like some kind of ******* frog

Yeah it's a frog, it's the logo of the main ISP in Portugal, wich is part of Portugal Telecom, sponsor of Benfica, Porto and Sporting.
It only appears in the training kits.

^^ yeah, these are Benfica kits

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1537/27444ti5.jpg

Adu in pink (H)!

^those are much better, especially the red! Might have to get an adu authentic in red:hump:

^those are much better, especially the red! Might have to get an adu authentic in red:hump:

I'll get you a much nicer one with blue and white stripes!! :evil: