Freddy Adu and Benfica Fail to Reach Agreement, Zizzo signs with a European Club | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Freddy Adu and Benfica Fail to Reach Agreement, Zizzo signs with a European Club

Seems like the big clubs in Europe have decided on not taking a chance on Adu. At 17, he is still only a chap and can have a great career, but it seems like if he is going to sign for a European club, it will be with someone like Benfica, Celtic or Everton.
 
Zizzo to Hannover seems like a good move for him. I liked what I saw from him in the Under 20 world cup, and he should improve his game in Germany. As for Adu, I think it would be best for him to start at a team like Benfica or another team that has a reputation for developing young talent before he moves to the EPL or another major league. I also heard that he would have a problem obtaining a work permit to play in England as he has not played in enough national team games. Leagues in Portugal, Holland, Belgium, etc do not require work permits.
 
He should go to the netherlands... that one is an awesome youth farm league
 
emeraldfin said:
Seems like the big clubs in Europe have decided on not taking a chance on Adu. At 17, he is still only a chap and can have a great career, but it seems like if he is going to sign for a European club, it will be with someone like Benfica, Celtic or Everton.
Click to expand...

Adu is 18. Also, the proposed transfer fees are somehow way too low IMO. Only $2 million? Other Americans have gone for more. I thought his performance in the U-20 would have raised his value more.

Well, anyway, the key thing is that Adu gets out of MLS and goes to a good club in Europe. He shouldn't make the mistake Eddie Johnson made in turning down an offer from Benfica ($5 million I think) long ago. Now, look at EJ..
 
ckb2001 said:
Adu is 18. Also, the proposed transfer fees are somehow way too low IMO. Only $2 million? Other Americans have gone for more. I thought his performance in the U-20 would have raised his value more.

Well, anyway, the key thing is that Adu gets out of MLS and goes to a good club in Europe. He shouldn't make the mistake Eddie Johnson made in turning down an offer from Benfica ($5 million I think) long ago. Now, look at EJ..
Click to expand...

EJ still wants to go to a European club though. There are scouts looking at him...
 
Prime Time said:
EJ still wants to go to a European club though. There are scouts looking at him...
Click to expand...

Well, look at this.. He turned down another offer just a few days ago:
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7056858

"Eddie Johnson, Major League Soccer's leading scorer, has turned down a transfer from the Kansas City Wizards to Derby of England's Premier League.

Vermes said he could not confirm the terms of the transfer fee offered by Derby, said to be in the $3.6 million range. Derby won promotion to the Premier League this past season, after being relegated from England's top division following the 2001-02 season."
-------------------


That's at least the second time EJ's done this. I really don't like this attitude at all.

Pope I can understand wanting to stay in the US and help grow the game. Donovan.. hard to say. I think he whines too much, but I'm not sure he'd necessarily be a better player had he stayed in Germany. He's proven himself on the national team, so it's hard to criticize his decision.

But EJ?? The guy started out with many goals the first few times he appeared for the Nats, but since then he's been essentially a disappointment.

He really needs to go to Europe, and he first turns down Benfica and then Derby. Doesn't sound like he wants higher level competition at all, but I do hope I'm proven wrong about this in the future.

Anyway, our next hope at forward - our weakest spot - is Altidore, not EJ.
 
They were talking about the Eddie Johnson situation during the Red Bulls game tonight and they mentioned that he turned down the offer from Derby County. They then said that Johnson has many options as the offers are "pouring in". I think he should have accepted the offer. Its a great opportunity to play in one of, if not the best league in the world. Him declining the offer leads me to believe that either he isn't interested in playing against higher competition, or that there really is another offer on the table. I just think he is afraid to fail overseas.
 
ckb2001 said:
Adu is 18. Also, the proposed transfer fees are somehow way too low IMO. Only $2 million? Other Americans have gone for more. I thought his performance in the U-20 would have raised his value more.

Well, anyway, the key thing is that Adu gets out of MLS and goes to a good club in Europe. He shouldn't make the mistake Eddie Johnson made in turning down an offer from Benfica ($5 million I think) long ago. Now, look at EJ..
Click to expand...

Think of it like this... if the MLS does not sell him now. Then he is free to go in a free transfer so if the MLS wants to get money from him they got to sell him now. So they are in the position of being lowballed... add to that that Adu has really done nothing (he played well in the Under 20's but has not wowed anyone outside, compare that to Kun Aguero who had a pretty darn good season in spain, or Vela and Gio who have been doing great in spain too)
 
ckb2001 said:
Well, look at this.. He turned down another offer just a few days ago:
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7056858

"Eddie Johnson, Major League Soccer's leading scorer, has turned down a transfer from the Kansas City Wizards to Derby of England's Premier League.

Vermes said he could not confirm the terms of the transfer fee offered by Derby, said to be in the $3.6 million range. Derby won promotion to the Premier League this past season, after being relegated from England's top division following the 2001-02 season."
-------------------


That's at least the second time EJ's done this. I really don't like this attitude at all.

Pope I can understand wanting to stay in the US and help grow the game. Donovan.. hard to say. I think he whines too much, but I'm not sure he'd necessarily be a better player had he stayed in Germany. He's proven himself on the national team, so it's hard to criticize his decision.

But EJ?? The guy started out with many goals the first few times he appeared for the Nats, but since then he's been essentially a disappointment.

He really needs to go to Europe, and he first turns down Benfica and then Derby. Doesn't sound like he wants higher level competition at all, but I do hope I'm proven wrong about this in the future.

Anyway, our next hope at forward - our weakest spot - is Altidore, not EJ.
Click to expand...

True. I don't remember Pope being offered but that is because I was younger, what European teams offered him, I am curious to know.

EJ needs to pick a team already though, his picky taste is going to cost him and the U.S. National Team. I hope Altidore is goes to Europe before he gets to 20.
 
vinlakers22 said:
They were talking about the Eddie Johnson situation during the Red Bulls game tonight and they mentioned that he turned down the offer from Derby County. They then said that Johnson has many options as the offers are "pouring in". I think he should have accepted the offer. Its a great opportunity to play in one of, if not the best league in the world. Him declining the offer leads me to believe that either he isn't interested in playing against higher competition, or that there really is another offer on the table. I just think he is afraid to fail overseas.
Click to expand...

From what I've read online, there are several teams interested. Eddie Johnson isn't afraid to fail over seas. He wants to play in Europe. I remember before the World Cup in an interview he said how he wanted to play well so a European team could pick him up...but unfortunately he is being way too picky. With that said, he has drawn interest from other clubs including Man U, so he has time, but he needs to go to Europe before August 31st....
 
Prime Time said:
True. I don't remember Pope being offered but that is because I was younger, what European teams offered him, I am curious to know.

EJ needs to pick a team already though, his picky taste is going to cost him and the U.S. National Team. I hope Altidore is goes to Europe before he gets to 20.
Click to expand...

Altidore should wait. And wait a while. He is good but he clearly needs to do a lot of growing up before going there, and I mean a looooooooooot. I know that you have seen a lot of him playing kids his age in the U-20's but I urge you to watch Red Bulls games (I have gone to plenty this season... happy to say they have yet to loose when I have been to one). Jozee has good vision as to where to be to score goals, but he is terrible at actually playing the ball, he doesn't know where to go with it and keeps on loosing it at times where he shouldn't be loosing it (though he is better at that than Richards who is really fast but downright unnerving with how many balls he loses).

Having said that, yeah I think he is going to be good. ( I really like him fact is one of my favorite chants by the ESC has to do with him). But he is nowhere near the talent level of going to Europe without flaming out and dissappearing... he needs to stay in the MLS for a while before going up there.
 
Yup, looks like a 5 year deal for Adu:
http://www.portugoal.net/Benfica0607/Freddy-Adu.htm

"Benfica have pulled off another blockbuster signing over the weekend when they locked American teenager, Freddy Adu, to a five-year contract. The 18-year-old prodigy is due to arrive in Portugal on Monday to finalise the deal.

The Lisbon giants have agreed to dish out 1.75 million euros for the player’s signature. The deal was announced by club spokesperson, Trey Fitzgerald, before the Utah club took on the New England Revolution on Saturday."
------------------


This is a great move. I would have loved to see Adu go to a top team in the Netherlands (my first choice), say Ajax or so, because of their track record at developing young players and seeing them off to top teams. But, this is almost as good.

Benfica is a pretty good team, and the Portuguese style is probably more suited for Adu anyway than that of the Netherlands (Adu is not going to learn defense for his life).

So, let's see if he can make a mark on that team. We need someone on a good team in Europe to actually make a MARK, not just be another "player".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom