Following weeks of speculation surrounding the immediate playing future for one of America's most notable soccer players, D.C. United and Freddy Adu have put an end to any ideas that he'd appear in a Major League Soccer uniform other than the Black-and-Red of D.C. United.
"I'm excited to remain with D.C. United," said Adu. "I'm working hard to improve my game this off-season in order to become a bigger part of the team next season."
"We had a very productive conversation with Freddy, his family, and his representatives," said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. "It was a good opportunity, absent the distractions of the season and the heat of emotions, to discuss our mutual goals for the club and for Freddy."
Adu's mother Emelia and representatives from SportsNet LLC were among a group of advisors at the teenager's side for a sit-down meeting with United officials after Thanksgiving to review his performance last season, the situation surrounding his playoff suspension and to look ahead to the future development of the young star.
"Our position today is the same as it has always been," said Payne. "In our organization, the club comes first, the team comes second, and individuals come third. Freddy understands and embraces that philosophy. At the same time, we are absolutely committed to helping Freddy grow and develop as a professional, and are convinced this is the right environment for him to accomplish that. Freddy made it clear in the meeting that he agrees with that."
"Both parties are anxious to get going in 2006. I look forward to a very successful season for our club, and believe our fans and the rest of the league will see a more experienced Freddy Adu continue his very impressive progress as a player. We are convinced Freddy will emerge this season as an even more influential player on the field and will be one of the most important ingredients in our attempt to win back the MLS Cup."
In two seasons since becoming the youngest American professional athlete in more than a century, Adu has become a fixture in United's lineup. As a 15-year-old, he was one of two United players to see action in every regular season match during the 2004 campaign, totaling five goals and three assists in United's march to the their fourth MLS Cup championship. The phenom was also a Commissioner's Pick to the MLS All-Star game during his record-breaking year.
Adu showed great improvement throughout his sophomore season in the Nation's Capital. Despite missing a number of games due to his time with the U.S. U-20 national team at the FIFA Youth World Championships, Adu scored four goals and dished out six helpers in 25 games (16 starts). He tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals, while notching two game-winning assists. He was twice named the Honda MLS Player of the Week - first, in Week 6, when he notched a goal and tallied two assists in D.C.'s 3-1 win over the Columbus Crew and second in week 28, when he had a goal and an assist in the team's 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake.
"I feel that I made substantial improvement from year one to two," said Adu. "I hope that I continue to improve and that I can utilize my ability to better contribute to the success of the team going forward."
Adu is currently training in Bradenton, Fla., in preparation for his highly anticipated 2006 season. In addition to training in the Sunshine State, he has met with Nowak on a couple of occasions. United's hcead coach maintains an offseason residence in nearby Naples, Fla.
"It was good to sit down with Freddy away from the pressure and emotion of the season," said Nowak. "Seeing Freddy succeed as a member of our team and meet individual expectations are both priorities for me. I am his biggest fan and remain determined to continue developing his talents within the context of a team system. I believe that, in this manner, he can be a great player for D.C. United and realize his immense individual abilities. I believe that this is the way for him to become the player that we all know he can be."
Adu will travel to Germany later this month to participate in the third edition of the FIFA-supported Match Against Poverty: Ronaldo & Friends vs. Zidane & Friends. Scheduled for Dec. 22 at LTU-Arena Stadium in Dusseldorf, the game will feature some of soccer's most recognizable faces. Net profits of ticket sales, sponsorship and television rights will fund anti-poverty projects around the world. The last two successful editions already funded important projects in Comoros, Namibia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Haiti, Brazil, Guinea Bissau and Morocco.
