Freddy Adu to Celtic?
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by Tyduffy
ESPN Soccernet is reporting that Freddy Adu's agent will be speaking to officials from Scottish Champions Celtic when the club is in the United States to play the MLS All-Star team.
The 18 year-old midfielder first attracted interest when he was named MVP of an Under-14 tournament while playing for the U.S. Olympic Development Program. He turned down a six-figure offer from Italian giant Inter Milan and joined MLS in 2004 at the tender age of 14. Despite displaying flashes of brilliance, he has never truly found his sea legs in MLS, sparking speculation that he would never live up to his potential.
However, Freddy has recently revived interest in him due to his spectacular form during the U-20 World Cup. As captain, he scored a hat-trick in the team's breakout 6-1 victory of Poland, and also created both goals in the 2-1 victory over Brazil. The striking disparity between his form at international level versus his form in MLS has caused many to believe that he needs a greater challenge to spur his development forward.
Adu has recently been linked with a move to Manchester United, having had a two week trial there in November 2006. Though Man U were not eligible to sign him since he had not yet turned 18, and it is unclear whether the tryout was at the request of Alex Ferguson or American owner Malcolm Glazer. He has also stated an interview that it would be a "dream" to play for Real Madrid.
One should probably not put too much stock in the Adu to Celtic idea. The entire impetus for the rumor appears to be Adu's agent Richard Motzkin (who made doubly sure to get his name out there and the fact that he is LA-based). Celtic have been trying to increase their brand recognition in the U.S. (not a bad idea considering the large Irish Catholic population), and have a stated goal of developing 30 Soccer academies. Adu would probably benefit that tremendously, but the club has, as of yet, made no statements that would confirm any interest in the young American.
Freddy going to Celtic would also probably be a rather stupid move. One questions whether this agent is the same one who advised him to spend five seasons in MLS rather than in a development program in Italy. Yes, he would get an opportunity to play on a big stage in the Champions League, but the Scottish Premier League (outside of the Old Firm Derby) is barely (if at all) superior to MLS in terms of quality. For a player of his talent and ambition, it would be another sideways step when he should be moving forward. He will probably in Europe after this MLS season, but not with Celtic.
