Freddy Adu Returns

After landing in Lisbon this morning, Freddy Adu met with Benfica and Rui Costa to learn his fate. Little is known about what was discussed, but Freddy Tweeted:"training with Benfica tomorrow.I'm excited and can't wait wait to start training. I'm not 100% if I'm staying or not. I want to but u never know".

I would be surprised if we see Freddy training with the main squad tomorrow, as JJ has not shown any interest in Freddy.
There are a lot of fans that would like to see Freddy stay, myself included, but the truth is that right now the squad is busting at the seams with players.


There are currently 6 forwards on the squad, and none of them on the verge of being on the transferable list.
In reality Freddy has very little room in this squad, the only way i can see him staying is if JJ pegs him as a role player, but without seeing him, and with the 6 forwards already in the squad i highly doubt Freddy will even be considered for a role, as little as it may be.

Add to the fact that Benfica will only be able to register 25 players with UEFA for the Europa League, 8 of which must have either:
a)have come up through the Benfica's youth system,
b)Been with Benfica for three years before their 22nd birthday
c)both of the above both with another club in Portugal

And you can see how limited the chances are for Freddy.

From Freddy's Tweet(filled with excitement), it's easy to assume that he will be training with the main squad. What many don't know is that behind the scenes, there is a group players that are also training, but away from the team. Makukula, Marc Zoro, Binya, Jorge Ribeiro, Balboa and Luís Filipe, among others, have all been working out at the Caixa Futebol Campus. All of these players are on the transfer list and continue to work out away from the team while waiting for placement. This is perhaps where Freddy is going to end up despite his excitement.

Despite secretly hoping that Freddy makes the squad, realistically the space is very limited, and i am more inclined to think that Freddy's future will go through another loan deal with an acquisition clause at the end of that deal. He will most likely end up in the Eredivisie, where a lot of US players have had success.
His salary is considerable for another Liga Sagres team to take on, and Benfica will be looking to get away from paying his wages by loaning him out to a team who will be able to afford Freddy's wages.