Shortly after Real Salt Lake and D.C. United finished the deal that brought Freddy Adu to the Wasatch Front, the teenage pro started negotiating his own transaction.
"I have to start out by thanking Chris Brown for giving me the number 11, for the small price of a PS3 of course, but it's the number I have always wanted," Adu said at a press conference here on Tuesday afternoon.
And just like that, Adu started a new chapter in his Major League Soccer career. The first chapter began when he was drafted at age 14 by D.C. United three seasons ago; Adu sees some differences between that moment and this one.
"I am reborn," Adu said. Before he could drive, Adu had a million-dollar shoe sponsorship contract and plenty of other off-field distractions. Now, Adu feels like he can just concentrate on soccer.
"This is the best environment for me to be in to succeed, to play in, to play in my natural position, to get better and to really help a team out," Adu said.
And make no mistake, RSL coach John Ellinger was a big draw for the young midfielder.
"I get to be reunited with the coach that I played with since I was 12 years old," Adu said. "He recruited me to play with the U-17 U.S. national team; I played under him for three and a half years down there, and while I was down there I played the best soccer in my life."
Ellinger certainly is glad to have Adu on his side of the field.
"I'm very pleased to have Freddy on the roster of a team that I'm coaching again," Ellinger said. "I'm tired of him being happy to see me, and then scoring goals against me. And they were pretty good goals, actually."
Ellinger believes Adu should thrive on a team with capable senior players like Jason Kreis, Jeff Cunningham, Carey Talley and Chris Klein. Kreis, the team captain and the league's all-time leading goal scorer, expects big things of his new teammate.
"Freddy has shown in the past few years some moments of brilliance, but we are going to ask more from him; we are going to ask for 90 minutes of brilliance week in and week out," Kreis said. "I know, I believe and all the other players believe and know that Freddy can and will do that."
The elation was real on Tuesday, but it may not last through the season. The possibility remains that Adu could take his professional career out of the country. Adu is eligible for such a move after he turns 18 years old in June, and he recently spent time working out with Manchester United.
"Everything went absolutely beautiful at Manchester United," Adu said. If MLS does make such a deal with an overseas team, Real Salt Lake would be compensated well, especially if Adu raises his stock with the team. But RSL general manager Steve Pastorino hopes that does not happen soon.
"We wouldn't have entered into this transaction without believing that Freddy would be a part of this organization for quite a while," Pastorino said.
In the meantime, RSL will just enjoy the moment.
"Obviously, we're quite pleased that he's here, and hope that he's here for a long time," Ellinger said. "You never know what's going to happen, but right now he's here, and that's all that matters."
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
