Rarer than that species: a winning English coach, is a sighting of Freddy Adu.
Fear not, Freddy is still in AS Monaco. Alive, just on the bench a lot.
He is most likely return to Benfica because it appears Monaco is not interested in buying him out. So far he has logged 169 minutes of playing time in 11 appearances. Ten of these have been as a substitute and the one that he started was a Ligue Cup game against Caen. All the appearances came before the new year. So it is very fair to say that Monaco has given Adu very little exposure.
Adu might fare better in his Benfica return, where the two loan moves David Suazo and Jose Antonio Reyes have not worked out. Suazo’s appearances have been curtailed through injury. Reyes most likely will move back to Atletico. Angel Di Maria, the left winger/ striker is sure to be a sought after transfer target. So there should be more regular openings for Adu.
There seems to be a push towards building a team around younger talent like Di Maria, Urreta, Bastos, Sidnei, David Luiz, Vitor, and Ishmael Vartey. Quiqui Flores the manager has also resorted to juggling midfield and attacking responsibilities which have unsettled players like Ruben Amorim and Pablo Aimar. The only consistent attacking threat has been Oscar Cardozo and his 16 goals. Adu’s versatility maybe a good fit in this transitional Benfica team feeling its way forward under Rui Costa’s new stewardship.