When 17-year-old Football Manager wonderkid Freddy Adu started a two week trial at Manchester United back in 2006, many expected the American boy wonder to flourish into a world class talent.
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 11 years on from that trial in Manchester, Adu is set for yet another strange transfer.
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Earlier this month, after leaving Tampa Bay Rowdies, it emerged that he failed to secure a move to MLS side Portland Timbers.
Commenting on the failed move to Oregonlive, Timbers coach Caleb Porter said:
"Freddy is no longer with us. He had two weeks and we were up front and honest with him about where we're at. More than anything, you look at the depth, there's just not going to be a spot."
And with seemingly no better offers on the table, Adu is to have a medical at second-tier Polish side Sandecja Nowy Sacz in what is another bizarre move for a player who had so much hype surrounding him back in the day.
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What could have been. After scoring four goals as a 14-year-old at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship, Adu had scored 11 goals and 17 assists in MLS between 2004 and 2006. He was just 16-years-old.
Being nominated for the coveted FIFPRO Young Player Of The Year in 2005 proved that he was recognised as one of the most promising youngsters in world football and a trial with Manchester United a year later added to the buzz surrounding him as expected. Him being an absolute don on Championship Manager and Football Manager back in the day probably earned him rave reviews, as well.
It looked promising for Adu when he signed for Benfica in 2007 but after loan spells at Monaco, Belenenses and Çaykur Rizespor, he moved back to the MLS after scoring just two goals for the Portuguese side.
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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.
A further three moves did absolutely nothing for him and now at 27 he looks set to sign for a team that aren't even in the Polish top flight. Is that the best move he can get?
13 teams, eight countries, and one career that didn't go in the direction it was supposed to - the Freddy Adu story.
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Here are a host of other Football Manager wonderkids who flopped:
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football
