Much ado about Freddy

By John F. Molinaro, CBCSports.ca

Freddy Adu has heard it all before.

How he hasn't taken Major League Soccer by storm. How he hasn't converted average American sports fans into devotees of the beautiful game. How he's failed to live up to people's expectations.

Maybe Adu hasn't done any of those things, but it's important to remember that the American playmaker is still only 18 years old and that he still has plenty of time to make his mark.

For now, Adu is just concentrating on helping the United States progress at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and he gives little thought to what others believe he should have already achieved at this point in his young career.

Freddy Adu, right, is the only player in history to score a hat trick at the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cup. (Canadian Press)

"I'm still obviously developing and I am not trying to grow up too fast. I am trying to learn and maximize my talents as much as I possibly can," Adu told CBC Sports prior to the tournament.

"People have expectations for you but it all comes down to the goals you set for yourself and where you really want to get to with your soccer career…"

U.S. under-20 coach Rongen is also quick to come to Adu's defence.

"He is a great player as any talented player at his age is. There are some things said about him that he isn't living up to the hype of expectations, but that is frankly ridiculous," Rongen said.

Born in Ghana where he first played soccer, Adu and his mother moved to the U.S. when he was eight. It was soon after his arrival on American soil that he began to turn heads as a young soccer prodigy, and eventually joined the U.S. Soccer Federation's full-time residency camp in Florida.

Such was his skill level that he became the hottest property in American soccer, signing with D.C. United of MLS and making his pro debut in early 2004 at just 14 years of age, making him the youngest athlete in the history of American professional sports.

It's fair to say, though, that Adu under-achieved in three seasons with D.C. - he scored 11 goals in 87 games - and it hardly came as a surprise when the club traded him to Real Salt Lake last December.

While Adu has struggled in MLS, he's been a pillar of strength for the U.S. under-20 team, as this summer marks his third FIFA U-20 World Cup. Adu also played at the FIFA U-17 World Cup - he's the only player in history to score a hat trick and the U-17 and U-20 World Cups - and he made his debut for the U.S. senior national team last January.

Because of Adu's experience, Rongen made the MLS star team captain.

"He has taken it seriously, he understands the magnitude of this tournament because he has been there and he shares it with his teammates and he is a great extension of the coaching staff," Rongen said.

Last November, Adu went on a two-week trial with Manchester United and he recently admitted that he dreams of one day playing for Real Madrid.

While the American teenager has not hidden the fact that he aspires to play in Europe, he remains focused on the task at hand this summer.

"Obviously it has always been a dream of mine but right now all I can keep doing is working hard and my focus right now really is to win … all I care about is the U-20 World Cup and I really want to help the team get as far as we possibly can," said Adu.