The search for Freddy Adu's 2009/10 loan club, that is. Odense BK have broken off talks with Benfica, though nobody is talking much about the reason.I don't have a great deal of info on this scene yet, but it's still early in the day. What I do know is the amount of salary OB would need to pay was an issue; whether that means Benfica were being foolishly cheap or Adu foolishly shortsighted remains to be seen. For now, the American remains in training with the Portuguese club.
From what I've been able to glean this morning, it seems like someone in Lisbon has pulled the plug over money. It is also certainly possible that a more attractive or less thrifty loan suitor has entered the picture and simply passed Odesne BK by. The Danes insist they will continue to monitor Adu's situation, indicating that their interest remains high.
UPDATE: Now, Danish outlet Bold is reporting that the talks have indeed broken down over the level of Benfica's salary responsibility. So there ya go.
And if Benfica is pinching pennies (adjust metaphor for inflation) in this way, then they are being incredibly silly. Either they want him to excel on loan to draw a transfer fee when they get rid of him or they want him to get his mojo back to become an Eagle weapon again. Neither of these things will happen if they keep him hidden away in Seixal.
Back to my digging, stay tuned...
- Greg Seltzer
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11 comments:
Greg,
Other blogs are claiming there is a league minimum of 500,000 (Euros?) for foreigners. If true, it is not Adu that needs to take a pay cut. It is Benfica that needs to agree to pay some portion of the 500k.
The only way Adu could help the impass would be to pay some of the 500k out of his own pocket. Agree?
Holland would definitely be an ideal league for Adu's skills.
Do you think a Dutch team might try to turn him into a "Dutch winger" on the left side?
@ agg pass: There is such a minimum salary for non-EU's in the Eredivisie. I'm not sure about Denmark. I asked Poul-Henrik Worm and he also wasn't sure. The league office is closed now, but I can call tomorrow morning to ask.
@ bham: It is conceivable that one could view him as a winger or as a #10. Depending on the team, one slot or the other would carry fewer defensive responsibilities - and that one would be where he's used. He is obviously not adding steel wool to anyone's defensive set-up.
Do you have a link, agg/pass?
Greg, I don't know of a link, but I know it's the only thing that people talk about in the Freddy threads at BigSoccer anymore.
Ahhh yes... what a fun place that is. The Worm has checked the DBU rulebook and found nothing about a minimum salary for non-EU's, but I will make a double check call in the AM.
I'm calling it. Venlo after they sell Honda.
"Either they want him to excel on loan to draw a transfer fee when they get rid of him or they want him to get his mojo back to become an Eagle weapon again."
Or, they hold out so little hope for him that they can't see him perform well enough to draw a sizable transfer fee, instead hoping there is a sucker club out there that would pay his entire salary at least this season. How much does he have left on his contract?
Forgive the pessimism. A great blog!
Nah, they wanna get their money's worth, one way or the other. Besides, many Benfica fans don't really understand why he's been shoved off so much. When he first arrived, they saw him as a real weapon. But new coaches go with the familiar and well... who knows what else?
He has three years left on his deal. Eventually, I think someone will get wise and polish the diamond.
Greg,
No links. Just reading comments from other blog posters. Which is why I said "if true". Also, if true, it would mean the other Americans would be making the same 500k....
Looking forward to see what you can confirm.
ps: I like that you work your contacts and report accordingly. Keep it up.
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