World soccer notes

American soccer teenager Freddy Adu will move from Portugal's Benfica to play with Monaco next season in the French league.

Benfica said late Monday that the 19-year-old midfielder will join Monaco on a seasonlong loan, and the French club then will have the option of signing him to a permanent contract.

Adu joined Benfica in July last year but started only two matches, scoring five goals in 21 appearances as the team finished fifth in the Portuguese league, and had three different coaches in an unsettled season.

He will play with the U.S. team at the Beijing Olympics next month and is then expected to join Monaco, which finished 12th in the French league last season.

More Ronaldo saga

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson warned Cristiano Ronaldo that moving to Real Madrid would be "the worst thing" for his career.

The Portuguese winger again refused to commit himself to the Red Devils over the weekend, but Ferguson is confident he will stay at Old Trafford after scoring 42 goals last season.

"After the Champions League final, he was the happiest boy in the world," Ferguson said Monday from Man United's tour of South Africa. "I think he knows genuinely where the best club is to be at, and that is Manchester United.

"I honestly believe that the worst thing he could do is go to Real Madrid. He's 23 years old, he is at the right club, he is at a fantastic club and there should not be any need to think in any other way."

United told Ronaldo he will not be sold or offered a new contract with a pay rise to match any offer from the Spanish champions.

Instead of increasing Ronaldo's weekly pay of $240,000, United wants him to display commitment and loyalty.

"He signed a five-year contract last year, and he still has four years left," Ferguson said. "That's definite — I know that. I've seen his signature.

"Young lads can be twisted by the talk of money and moves that are happening all the time in modern-day football."

Ronaldo, who is sidelined until at least October after recently undergoing surgery on his right ankle, is not on the tour to South Africa. United played the Orlando Pirates on Tuesday in Durban.

Postponed again

Tuesday night's soccer match between D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo has been postponed because of a power outage. The game has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. MDT.

Recent comments

Add your comment