CAN FREDDY ADU IT THIS TIME?

Perhaps one of the most unlikely stories to emerge over the past week is the news that American wonder kid Freddy Adu is to spend two weeks training with Rayo Vallecano.

And although both club and player are keen to stress that the trip is anything other than a pre-season training base, speculation from various news outlets suggest that if Adu impresses then a move to the La Liga struggler’s could be a possibility in the near future.

Speaking of the arrangement, his agent Motzkin said: “Freddy is looking to build on the summer he had at the Gold Cup, and the fall he had with Philadelphia. The Union have been very understanding about finding an opportunity to train this winter and going to Spain should be a good experience for him.”

It isn’t the first time that the Madrid based club have been linked with Adu, indeed they were in talks with the player last summer.

A deal ultimately failed to materialise, and in August Adu opted to jet back to the comfort of America and the MLS, with a move to Philadelphia Union.

The youngest player and the youngest ever goal scorer in the history of the league, the deal caused a major splash at the time in America.

However it is fair to say that Adu’s arrival on the Eastern coast hasn’t had the impact that most had hoped.

Unfortunately this has been a similar theme throughout his career, a perfect example of a player who has been weighted down by lofty expectations.

Very much once seen as a symbol of America’s growing influence in the game Adu, has of yet, failed to fulfil his original promise and the subsequent attention that was placed on him by many across the Atlantic Ocean.

Instead failed spells at both Benfica and Monaco must surely cast doubt as to whether the player has the ability to make the grade in leagues other than his native homeland MLS.

He may be a firm favourite amongst fans of ‘Football Manager’ but it is this fear that must persist in the minds of managers across Europe’s top leagues.

But after ending a two year absence by becoming a shock inclusion in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Adu performed admirably in the tournament showing a glimpse of what he can do.

There is no doubting that he is a tremendously frustrating player, but he could well be one who will be given a second chance in a league like La Liga.

Adu is joining a club who are currently in free fall.

After a respectable start to the season, Rayo have lost five out of their last eight and are flirting with the temptress of the relegation zone in 16th place.

It may be unlikely, it may be a shock, and it would certainly be a long shot – but maybe, just maybe, Rayo Vallecano may be tempted to look to Adu as a potential saviour.

Talks of any sort of deal may at present be non-existent, but if he impresses then Jose Ramon Sandoval may well be making a few long distance phone calls to Philadelphia in the next few days.

Much in the same vein as Landon Donavan and Thierry Henry are set to join up with Everton and Arsenal in the short term, maybe a similar type deal may transpire at Rayo.

Follow @icentrocampista

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