Adu Belenenses Bound

On a busy transfer deadline day, one deal that nearly slipped under the radar was the rather unspectacular loan of US hopeful Freddie Adu from Benfica to Lisbon neighbours Belenenses.

A far cry from the 14-year old prodigy who made headlines as the youngest MLS scorer back in 2004, unsuccessful spells in Portugal and France have seen Adu’s numerous admirers back off wary at his failure to blossom. Freddie’s arrival at Belenenses represents his last chance saloon at cracking Europe.

The young American’s lack of success on the continent has a far greater impact on US soccer abroad. With the likes of Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies and Michael Bradley trying to make a living away from home, Adu’s ineffective stay could encourage fewer European clubs to dip into the US market. Depriving US hopefuls of a more challenging apprenticeship would handicap a US team whose current success is founded on a squad, of whom 50% turn out for top tier European clubs week in, week out.

Freddie Adu running out of chances to celebrate