Brotherly Game - Freddy Adu Saga: Live Stream Of Everything AduThe beautiful game with a Philadelphia attitudehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48005/brotherlygame-fave.png2015-07-11T06:00:02-04:00http://www.brotherlygame.com/rss/stream/36632632015-07-11T06:00:02-04:002015-07-11T06:00:02-04:00Adu close to signing with Tampa Bay Rowdies
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<figcaption>Freddy Adu in 2013. That was 4 teams ago. | Rich Schultz/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Former D.C. United, Real Salt Lake, Benfica, AS Monaco, Belenenses, Aris, Caykur Rizespor, Philadelphia Union, Bahia, FK Jagodina, and KuPS forward Freddy Adu is close to adding another team to an already extensive list: the Tampa Bay Rowdies.</p> <p>After leaving the Union and playing for three different clubs in three years, Freddy Adu will return to the United States to continue his whirlwind professional career. However, he won't be playing in Major League Soccer.</p>
<p><i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2015/07/10/13480642/sources-adu-set-to-sign-with-nasls-tampa-bay-rowdies?ICID=HP_BN_1">Goal USA</a></i> reported Friday that the 26 year-old journeyman is close to signing a deal with the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies. Tampa Bay will be Adu's fourth club since he was sold by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Union</a> in Spring 2013 to Brazilian club Bahia. Before he departed the Delaware Valley, Adu spent a tumultuous one and a half seasons in Philadelphia marred by inconsistent play and fitness issues. Adu was signed by <span>Peter Nowak</span> in 2011 as the first Designated Player in the club's short history.</p>
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<p>Reportedly pursued by several NASL clubs, <span>Freddy Adu</span> was last seen playing for Finland's Veikkausliga (Premier League) side KuPS. Struggling with fitness and injuries, Adu only made eight appearances in Finland before Adu says he opted to be released by the club so that he could find a new club. If he signs with Tampa Bay Adu will join former Reading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">United</a> stars <span>Ben Sweat</span> and <span>Corey Hertzog</span> as well as reuniting with Thomas Rongen, who was Adu's coach when he played for the Under-20 US national team during their famed quarterfinal run in the 2007 U-20 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a>.</p>
<p>After being drafted first overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft at the age of 14, Adu's cautionary tale of early stardom at such a young age and precipitous fall from grace is whispered by American soccer fans and media every time a young American soccer player shines on a big stage. Perhaps one day he will be the subject of a truly fascinating ESPN 30 for 30 documentary.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2015/7/11/8931927/freddy-adu-tampa-bay-rowdies-naslphillyhoosfan2015-07-07T10:19:53-04:002015-07-07T10:19:53-04:00Freddy Adu leaves Finland after eight games
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<figcaption>Drew Hallowell/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Another one bites the dust as Freddy Adu leaves his 11th club to "...pursue other opportunities"</p> <p>The seemingly never-ending downward spiral that is the career of Freddy Adu just got a little bit worse. Adu announced that he would be leaving his current team, KuPS of the Finnish first division this summer to, "...pursue other opportunities". Having played only a handful of games for KuPS before being relegated to the reserve squad KuFu-98 that plays in the Finnish fourth division, I don't know how many opportunities are left to pursue. Perhaps he can go back to hosting/promoting night clubs, but any future in professional soccer seems to be less likely with every passing day.</p>
<p>As of today, <span>Adu</span> has now played for eleven clubs throughout his career (twelve if you count the loan stint with KuFu-98), a number matched by fellow <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a> fan-favorite Rais M'Bolhi. The amount of teams each player has joined is matched only by the intense dislike that Union fans have for them. Perhaps the two could get together some day and open up an over-priced and consistently disappointing nightclub that switches towns every few months.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2015/7/7/8906051/freddy-adu-leaves-finland-after-eight-gamesMatt Albaugh2013-03-20T09:25:51-04:002013-03-20T09:25:51-04:00Adu To Bahia Today, Kleberson Here In December?
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<figcaption>Richard Heathcote</figcaption>
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<p>Bahia's President discussed the details of the Adu exchange on a talk radio show in Brazil.</p> <p>The Philadelphia Union will jettison Freddy Adu, but at a cost, according to Marcelo Guimarães Filho, Bahia's President.</p>
<p>Filho told local radio station <a target="_blank" href="http://bahiacomorgulho.com/SITE/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=350:presidente-fala-sobre-chegada-de-freddy-adu-e-situacao-de-souza&catid=1:bahia">Itapoan FM </a>that the team was excited to bring in Adu, in part because of the salary savings from moving an unwanted player of its own. Kleberson, a former Manchester United player and 2002 World Cup Hero with Brazil, is to be the play that moves to America in the deal.</p>
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<p>"We can only win with the departure of Kléberson and arrival of Adu. The negotiation with this is very positive. We'll save and gain based on who will leave us," Filho said.</p>
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<p>Kleberson reportedly makes between <a target="_blank" href="http://www.futnet.com.br/futebolbaiano/bahia/noticias/?273545-freddy-adu-sera-mesmo-o-novo-reforco-do-bahia">150,000 and 200,000 reals a month</a>, which converted to USD (the current rate is exactly one real for $0.50) is $75-100,000 per month. Brazilian outlets have repeatedly compared Kleberson's contract to that of Adu's, who they list at 67,000 real per month, or $33,500 (his contract in 2013 rests somewhere around or over $600,000).</p>
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<p>"There is a surplus, an economic [benefit] to Bahia," Filho was quoted as saying by Galaticos Online. "Even paying part of the wages to the American club of Kleberson and paying part of Adu, in the end it is us who win."</p>
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<p>According to Filho, Kleberson will move to the Union in <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JuanG_Arango/status/314038318436327424">December on loan</a>, which would leave one year on both his and Adu's contracts.</p>
<p>Union head coach John Hackworth is expected to give Philadelphia's update on the situation today at a press conference, along with disclosing more information on the coming departure of Adu's teammate Bakary Soumare.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/3/20/4127010/adu-reportedly-to-arrive-in-bahia-on-today-union-to-take-onScott Kessler2013-03-16T12:10:12-04:002013-03-16T12:10:12-04:00Reports: Adu To Bahia For Kleberson?
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<img alt="Kleberson, on the left, vies for the ball against Lucio in a Brazilian national team practice at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/S65bP9sLlCcgcH--Ow8nUL4cBZw=/0x98:502x433/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9858091/gyi0060751951.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kleberson, on the left, vies for the ball against Lucio in a Brazilian national team practice at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. | Richard Heathcote</figcaption>
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<p>Adu could soon be sent to Brazil for former World Cup winner Kleberson.</p> <p><span style="line-height: 9px;">A</span>ccording to reports from a <a target="_blank" href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bahianoticias.com.br%2Fesportes%2Fbahia%2F7703-bahia-e-philadelphia-union-negociam-troca-de-kleberson-por-freddy-adu.html">Brazilian news outlet</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/3/16/4110978/freddy-adu-brazil-bahia-transfer-philadelphia-union-mls">Soccer By Ives</a>, the Freddy Adu saga could be over for the Philadelphia Union in the next week, with former World Cup champion Kleberson heading to the City of Brotherly Love in a player swap.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bahianoticias.com.br%2Fesportes%2Fbahia%2F7703-bahia-e-philadelphia-union-negociam-troca-de-kleberson-por-freddy-adu.html">Bahia Noticias</a>, which in part covers the major club from the city of the same name, said today that a deal involving Adu heading to Brazil <a target="_blank" href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=pt&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bahianoticias.com.br%2Fesportes%2Fbahia%2F7703-bahia-e-philadelphia-union-negociam-troca-de-kleberson-por-freddy-adu.html">would include Kleberson moving to Philadelphia in return</a>. The outlet said nothing of any monetary value changing hands as part of the deal, something of a surprise for the Union, who have become notorious for shipping out players in exchange for cash only returns.</p>
<p>Both the outlet and Soccer By Ives' Ives Galarcep have said that the deal will either be completed or will fail to do so <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/312953451384537088">within the next week</a>. Galarcep <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/312951562509115392">confirmed on Twitter</a> that the "accomplished international player" <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/3/16/4110978/freddy-adu-brazil-bahia-transfer-philadelphia-union-mls">he hinted to be coming to the Union</a> was Kleberson.</p>
<p>Kleberson joined Bahia in 2012 after the team he was on loan to, Atlético Paranaense, was relegated to in Brazil's second league. Bahia barely avoided relegation itself last year, falling six points outside of the relegation zone and staying up in Brazil's top league.</p>
<p>The former Manchester United bust is best known for his exploits in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. His displays there earned him a transfer to United, before he moved onto Turkey and then back to Brazil with Flemengo.</p>
<p>The 33-year-old midfielder last played for Brazil under then head coach Dunga in 2010 against Chile.</p>
<p><i>(H/T to @BrianStraus and @PhilSchoen)</i></p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/3/16/4112272/reports-freddy-adu-bahia-philadelphia-union-brazil-kleberson-2002-world-cupScott Kessler2013-03-16T00:38:07-04:002013-03-16T00:38:07-04:00Report Says Adu To Go To Brazil
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<figcaption>Otto Greule Jr</figcaption>
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<p>Soccer By Ives has pointed to Bahia as the next destination for Adu.</p> <p>Months after head coach <span>John Hackworth</span> announced that Freddy Adu would no longer be a member of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/">Philadelphia Union</a>, the team seems close to finally making that official.</p>
<p>According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/03/closing-brazilian-bahia.html">Ives Galarcep, of Soccer By Ives</a>, Adu is close to a move to South America, which would have him playing for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/brazil">Brazil</a>ian club Bahia. Galarcep also said that Adu will soon travel down to Brazil next week to <a href="http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/03/adu-closing-in-on-move-to-brazilian-side-bahia.html" target="_blank">sign his newest contract</a>.</p>
<p>When completed, the move will close the book on very controversial tenure for Adu in Philadelphia. The 23-year-old was signed in August of 2011, and instantly became the Union's first ever Designated Player. After spending time in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/portugal">Portugal</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/greece">Greece</a>, Monaco and Turkey, the Union signed Adu hoping he would be the attacking midfielder the team so desperately needed.</p>
<p>The expensive move never panned out. Adu dealt with a nagging hamstring injury in 2012, and wanted to leave the team, briefly, midway through the season to have LASIK eye surgery (it never happened). As last year came to a close, it was evident that the former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a> Men's National Team player had no future in Philadelphia.</p>
<p>In 35 total apperances for the Union, Adu had seven goals and two assists.</p>
<p>Prior to reportedly rejecting <a href="http://www.brotherlygame.com/2013/3/4/4064268/union-reportedly-asked-adu-to-cut-his-pay-by-75-percent" target="_blank">a 75 percent pay cut</a>, Adu rejected possible moves to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/south-korea">South Korea</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/mexico">Mexico</a> in hopes of being able to make the jump to a more prominent league. By joining Bahia, the team <a href="http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/03/adu-closing-in-on-move-to-brazilian-side-bahia.html" target="_blank">Galarcep reports</a> is vying for Adu's services, he'll find a good opportunity in quite progressive Brazilian first division.</p>
<p>Bahia finished 15th last season, just six points clear of relegation. The team is no stranger to the MLS, having sent Rafael Souza out on loan to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a>, and acquiring Jeferson last season after his brief stint with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a>.</p>
<p>While Adu is already on his ninth team in just less than ten years and likely has no intentions of continuing his team merry-go-round, moving to Brazil gives him a chance to gain some more exposure from international teams at a pretty high level of competition. The Brazilian first division is a fast paced league, filled with talented superstars such as Neymar and Ronaldinho, among others.</p>
<p>For the Union, the move would free up a roster spot and for the team, and provide salary cap relief, as Adu's salary had a stranglehold on Philadelphia's finances, according to head coach John Hackworth. He was making around $600,000 this season.</p>
<p>Galarcep stated, <a href="https://twitter.com/SoccerByIves/status/312751610340192256" target="_blank">via Twitter</a>, that once Adu moved, it was likely that the Union would sign an "accomplished international player."</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/3/16/4110978/freddy-adu-brazil-bahia-transfer-philadelphia-union-mlsJakePavorsky2013-03-04T17:31:04-05:002013-03-04T17:31:04-05:00Philly Asked Adu To Take 75 Percent Pay Cut?
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<figcaption>Drew Hallowell</figcaption>
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<p>Steven Goff, of the Washington Post, reported that a source told him the Union wanted Freddy Adu to take a pay cut of over $400,000.</p> <p>Freddy Adu's contract situation was quite one sided, in favor of the <a href="https://www.brotherlygame.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Union's</a> front office, until the player spoke out through Alexi Lalas on ESPN's broadcast of the <a href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Portland Timbers</a>-New York Red Bull. Through a statement released to ESPN, Adu detailed, tersely, his desire to return to the field and play in MLS, whether with the Union or a different team.</p>
<p>Adu's situation began with head coach <span>John Hackworth</span> announcing to media that the player would not see the field for the team unless he took a pay cut. Details of demands on both sides were not revealed at any point, until now.</p>
<p>The Soccer Insider, Steven Goff of the Washington Post, reported today that the Union were <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/03/04/mls-weekend-in-review/">demanding a pay cut</a> of up to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/03/04/mls-weekend-in-review/">75 percent</a> in order to essentially reactive Adu as part of the team's roster. Last season Adu made around $519,000, meaning that a pay cut of that size would take his 2012 salary down to $129,750.</p>
<p>He noted, however, that this was a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/03/04/mls-weekend-in-review/">single source</a>. Goff went on to say that Adu <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2013/03/04/mls-weekend-in-review/">had left</a> his Philadelphia apartment and moved back home to Maryland, near Washington, D.C.</p>
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<p>Meantime, Adu cleared out his Philadelphia apartment last month and returned to Rockville, Md., to rejoin family. (His brother Fro is a volunteer assistant coach at alma mater George Mason University and a club coach for the Virginia Soccer Association in western Prince William County.) Freddy is working out regularly with a professional trainer to maintain fitness in hope of a fresh opportunity.</p>
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<p>As of right now, the Union cannot buyout Adu's contract beause the contract guarantee date has passed, meaning that he affects the team's salary at a rate of around $380,000 and also takes up a roster spot, despite not playing or participating in club functions.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/2013/3/4/4064268/union-reportedly-asked-adu-to-cut-his-pay-by-75-percentScott Kessler2013-03-04T10:25:07-05:002013-03-04T10:25:07-05:00Freddy Adu Makes A Statement To Alexi Lalas
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<p>The former American international breaks his silence to give a short comment to Alexi Lalas.</p> <p>During last night's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> 2013 home opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> half time, ESPN analysts <span>Taylor Twellman</span> and Alexi Lalas had a lightning round segment where the former asked questions and the latter answered them.</p>
<p>Lalas discussed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://delete.sbnprivate.com/">Chivas USA's</a> controversial player acquisition and transfer plans, Portland's defense and other topics, including Freddy Adu. </p>
<p>"Freddy Adu. The fact is that he's a designated player, he's a maximum salary player and he's roster spot and he's just sitting at home making money," Lalas said to Twellman and those watching the game on ESPN2 and ESPN3. "I'm very respectful of Freddy Adu because when he found out I was going to talk about this he gave me a comment. And you can read what he said."</p>
<p>ESPN put the Adu comment up as a graphic, the contents of which follow:</p>
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<p>FREDDY ADU: "The entire situation saddens me. While I have made mistakes and am trying to learn from them, a lot of what is said about me is not accurate. The truth is that I have been frozen out by the Philadelphia Union solely because I refuse to take a huge pay cut I am prepared to honor my contract with the Union ,or any other club in MLS and I don't think what has to happen to me is right... All I want to do now is play soccer and try to progress my career. But I will stay strong in my position and hope that I can be back out on an MLS field soon."</p>
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<p>As the comment ran on screen, Lalas elaborated on the situation, conceivably using details from a chat with Adu, something that no one in the Philadelphia soccer media community has been able to do since last season.</p>
<p>"He wants to play and he doesn't want to take a pay cut but he feels he's been frozen out by Philly," Lalas said. "Freddy Adu on the salary cap is $368,750. That's not being paid by Philly, that's being paid by all 19 teams. If my calculations are correct, it's $19,407.89 that every owner is paying for Freddy Adu to sit on the sidelines."</p>
<p>Now, Merritt Paulson, the owner of Portland, he's somewhere around here, I wonder what he feels about that right now. This is a problem, this is not just a problem for Philly, this is a problem that needs to be sorted out by the league."</p>
<p>Adu has not played for the Union since appearing for 58 minutes as a starter against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> on October 20. Multiple reports have placed the onus on Adu for not leaving the Union when he had the chance, after teams from lower divisions in America and Europe, along with clubs in Ukraine and Greece, attempted to acquire his services.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/3/4/4062516/freddy-adu-makes-a-statement-to-alexi-lalas-transferScott Kessler2013-02-03T00:05:14-05:002013-02-03T00:05:14-05:00Union And Toronto In Talks Over Freddy Adu
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<p>Freddy Adu could soon leave the Philadelphia Union in a trade that would put him on his fourth Major League Soccer team, and the ninth team ever in his career.</p> <p>Recently Twitter has created a new layer of mistrust and cynicism toward anything resembling a Major League Soccer rumor due to the rapid growth of a few accounts (and their parodies), in the past two years, that deal with such topics.</p>
<p>Fans of the Philadelphia Union may be some of the more critical groups of supporters on this issue because of the atmosphere of deceit when it comes to the same thing in baseball. The Phillies community is notorious for the actions of a few of its members that helped to start the most frequent misuse of Twitter for the sake of 'fun': fake writer accounts.</p>
<p>The efforts of those few mischievous fans spanned a new era of mistrust of internet based unofficial statements or reports of trades, transfers and other methods of player movement.</p>
<p>When <a href="http://twitter.com/BobbyBrizzo/statuses/297778831962542080" target="_blank">rumors sprouted</a> out of Toronto about the Union and <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto FC</a> discussing a trade involving Freddy Adu, most people wrote it off as an invention of a fan in the country up north trying to prove how easy it was to start gossip.</p>
<p>However, the Brotherly Game was informed that while there may have been independent creation of such a rumor, the two teams in fact have talked about such a deal.</p>
<p>A team official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Brotherly Game that the two sides had progressed in their preliminary negotiations on moving Adu out of Philadelphia. The official went so far as to say that it's possible that a trade could occur relatively soon.</p>
<p>Adu, 24, has been on the outs in Philadelphia ever since head coach <span>John Hackworth</span> publicly declare that the former American international had rejected to participate in negotiations to lower his salary and change his team role, leaving the team with its choice of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brotherlygame.com/2013/1/21/3899210/john-hackworth-philadelphia-union-freddy-adu-transfer-loan/in/3663263">selling, loaning</a>, trading or benching the controversial player.</p>
<p>At over $500,000 a year, Adu's status as the highest paid member of the team put him at odds with some of his teammates due to his attitude and caused a few locker room problems after he joined Philadelphia in August of 2011.</p>
<p>The attacking midfielder <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/1/31/3934884/rumor-freddy-adu-transfer-blackburn-rovers-philadelphia-union-mls">was linked</a> to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/blackburn-rovers" class="sbn-auto-link">Blackburn Rovers</a> prior to the end of the English transfer window and refused to move down the American soccer pyramid, according to Hackworth, leaving his future after the Union as a large question mark.</p>
<p>If the trade was to go through, Adu would be reunited with former DC United executive Kevin Payne and former teammate, and new Toronto head coach, <span>Ryan Nelsen</span>.</p>
https://www.brotherlygame.com/rumors/2013/2/3/3946354/philadelphia-union-freddy-adu-trade-toronto-fc-talks-mlsScott Kessler