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Freddy Adu loaned to Monaco for the season

22 Jul, 2008

By Chris Hummer, Potomac Soccer Wire Editor

Nineteen year old former D.C. United player and Potomac, Maryland resident Freddy Adu has been loaned to Monaco of the French League for the season. He departs Benfica after just one season, though the Portuguese club will still hold his rights. News reports out of Europe are also saying Monaco has built an "option to buy" into their loan agreement, so it would be no surprise if the American teenager makes a strong impression, the loan move may become permanent.

Monaco is no small club, and the French League is no push over. Even though the club finished in 12th spot last season, they were in the Champions League final as recently as 2004, losing to Porto. The club President is a French-American named Jerome de Bontin, who took over at the club recently. At the time, he told Soccer America Magazine that he hoped to sign one or two American players, and it makes sense that Adu was his first choice.

Adu's star shone brightly in the early part of his Benfica experience. From his unexpected hero's welcome at the airport when he first arrived, to a blistering streak of goals-per-minute-played when he scored in several games coming on as a late substitute. But coaching changes and whatever else goes on at a club like that doomed Adu to the bench for second half of the season, if he was even able to make the game-day roster.

The benching has not hurt Adu's chances with the full US National team however, as he been called in regularly, and was one of the brightest spots in a recent run of strong friendlies the US team played against England, Spain, and Argentina.

Adu is with the US Olympic team in California, and will remain with the team through the Beijing games. The Washington Post is reporting that Adu may hold a press conference from the Olympic training camp later this week, where many more details are sure to emerge.



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