Portugal’s Benfica loans 20-year-old midfielder Freddy Adu to crosstown rival Belenenses

Benfica loans Adu to crosstown rival Belenenses

LISBON, Portugal — Once hyped as soccer’s next big thing, Freddy Adu is moving from Benfica to smaller Portuguese rival Belenenses.

The 20-year-old American midfielder has struggled to establish himself at Benfica’s Stadium of Light and should have more chances of playing at Belenenses, which narrowly escaped relegation last season.

Adu will join the club on a season-long loan, Benfica said late Monday.

The American joined Benfica in 2007 but started only two matches in his first season, scoring five goals in 21 appearances.

Last season, he was loaned out to Monaco of France’s Ligue 1, where he played just 169 minutes in 10 matches.

Despite his irregular appearances, Adu has kept his place with the United States team. In July, he scored a goal in a 4-0 victory over Grenada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup before being released to join Benfica for preseason training.