Montreal Impact eyes Philadelphia Union striker Freddy Ady in Wednesday’s Expansion Draft – MLS News
Major League Soccer franchises released the lists of players available to the 2011 Expansion Draft. The club that surprised everyone in MLS circles with the players unprotected for the draft were Philadelphia Union. On the top of the roster was Freddy Adu,
who was imported in July from Super League Greece club, Aris FC.
Montreal Impact, who have the first pick, will be eyeing the US international in the draft. Impact manager Jesse Marsch, who was assistant coach to the US national team in 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup has seen Adu play for the Stars and Stripes this year.
“That’s a guy we’re thinking about,” Marsch admitted when speaking to reporters on Tuesday. “I have a relationship with him in the past. He’s a talented guy. Now it’s about trying to figure out how he would fit with us and what his thoughts are.”
There is a fair chance that Marsch will go for Adu in the pick of the first round. Although the player did not have an impressive track record in limited time with the Union, his play in the US camp has played its trick on Marsch.
“He’s a talented player, and if you get him in the right mindset and you’re now building with him the right way, that he has major potential still,” Marsch said. “He’s 22 — that’s a pretty young guy still.”
Adu started his professional career at the age of 14 after being drafted by DC United in 2003. The teenage sensation made a strong statement in his 4-year stint with the Black and Red. He sported the United jersey 98 times in four seasons scoring 12 goals
and notching 19 assists.
In 2007, he was exported to Portuguese league club, Benfica. Adu, at a tender age of 18, could not find his best form in Europe. He was traded to French club Monaco and Greek outfit Aris.
In July, Adu was brought onboard the Union ship. In 13 appearances, including the play-offs, the Ghana-born scored 2 goals and assisted another.
Despite his low performance in the Zolos’ squad, Marsch thinks Adu is anything but a flop. The player is already a star in Montreal because of his feat in 2007 U-20 World Cup at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium where he scored a hat-trick against Poland.
aadmin is a contributor at SportQA. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.