Once a Football Manager sensation and dubbed 'the new Pele', Freddy Adu has become a complete and utter journeyman in the game - a statement furthered by his next rumoured career move.
When Adu underwent a trial at Manchester United back in 2006, many expected the American boy wonder to flourish into a world class talent.
Adu starred in advert with Pele many years ago, and was tipped for stardom:
Despite Sir Alex saying: "I think we would be interested, he's only young but we have known of him for a long time," - nothing ever materialised and the Ghanaian-born American's career has fizzled out.
Image: PA
And having been out of contract since leaving Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier this year, as well as unsuccessful trials with Portland Timbers and Polish outfit Sandecja Nowy Sacz, he is now poised to return to football in what could be his most bizarre move yet.
According to Aftonbladet in Sweden, Adu is on his way to Oskarshamns AIK, who play in the third tier of Swedish football. The former wonderkid is subject to a contract offer from Oskarshamns and is expected to fly over to Sweden for talks at the start of next week.
Should the deal go ahead, it would be the the 14th transfer of Adu's underwhelming career. He would also tick another country off the list, having played in eight different countries at the age of 28.
Image: PA
What could have been. After scoring four goals as a 14-year-old at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship, there was a real buzz surrounding him. Aged just 16, he had scored 11 goals and 17 assists in MLS between 2004 and 2006.
It looked promising for Adu when he signed for Benfica in 2007 but after loan spells at Monaco, Belenenses and รaykur Rizespor, he moved back to the MLS after scoring just two goals for the Portuguese side.
Philadelphia Union offered him the opportunity to get back on track but it just didn't happen. When he was involved in a swap deal to Bahia, which saw former Manchester United flop Kleberson head the other way, it was probably an indication that his career was a far cry from what it promised to be back in his youth.
He then turned out for Jagodina, KuPS, KuFU-98 and Tampa Bay but each stint was short and uneventful, as has been recurring theme for the USA international.
We'll never, ever come across a story like Freddy Adu's again.
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