[Lefty Noob]

According to the Associated Press, "American soccer star Freddy Adu will move from Portugal’s Benfica to play with Monaco next season in the French league... Benfica said late Monday that the 19-year-old midfielder will join Monaco on a season-long loan, and the French club then will have the option of signing him to a permanent contract."

So what does everyone think about this move?
Adu will move from Benfica to Monaco next season - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports

[alex83]

Freddy Adu had the potential to be a very good player, but being exposed as such a talent at such a young age stunted his progress. He was unable to fulfill his potential and thus he has just fallen into the background and simply become "that kid that got the Nike deal at 7" or however old he was...which was a shame because he could have been a better player than he is

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by alex83

Freddy Adu had the potential to be a very good player, but being exposed as such a talent at such a young age stunted his progress. He was unable to fulfill his potential and thus he has just fallen into the background and simply become "that kid that got the Nike deal at 7" or however old he was...which was a shame because he could have been a better player than he is

Yeah, it's a classic example of how rushing a prodigy into the limelight can more or less ruin his game.

[alex83]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Yeah, it's a classic example of how rushing a prodigy into the limelight can more or less ruin his game.

exactly, a few years developing in a youth system, possibly in Europe and slowly working his way up the ranks, he could have been a very good player...but throwing him in to first team football at such a young age before he has developed his physical attributes and skills just messed him up...

i mean you wouldn't send out a 90lb, 5ft 4inch quaterback into the NFL at the age of 16 because he is a good prospect for the future would you?