Adu leaves US team after 2 Gold Cup games for preseason with Benfica
By APThursday, July 9, 2009
WASHINGTON — Freddy Adu will not play for the United States in the remaining games of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, U.S. coach Bob Bradley said after Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Honduras.
Adu scored a goal in the Americans’ opening 4-0 win against Grenada on Saturday at Seattle. He had one shot on goal Wednesday and was replaced in the 64th minute by Charlie Davies.
“This will be the last game Freddy will be here for the Gold Cup,” Bradley said after the game. “That was part of the arrangement from the start.”
Adu will participate in the preseason with Portuguese club Benfica, which he joined in 2007. Last season Benfica loaned him to Monaco of France’s Ligue 1, where he played just 169 minutes over 10 matches.
“It’s important to get preseason in with your team,” Adu said. “It gives you the best chance of being part of the team for the season.”
Bradley said there will be no specific replacement for Adu on the U.S. roster. Because the Americans reached the final of the Confederations Cup on June 28 and were playing in back-to-back tournaments, CONCACAF allowed the United States to expand its roster from 23 to 30.
