Adu leaving MLS for a few weeks

WASHINGTON — Just in time for his 16th birthday, Freddy Adu has the perfect cure for his teenage blues — getting away from adults.

For the next several weeks, Adu will leave Major League Soccer — where his playing time is inconsistent and his team isn't tailored around his considerable talents — and join the U.S. under-20 team for the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

"Right now, I don't know how to put it, I feel like I'm in a funk," Adu said after D.C. United's lifeless 2-0 home loss to FC Dallas on Saturday.

Adu started for just the fourth time this season, but he was a bit player. Asked to play along the right flank, he didn't get a chance to do much because the lethargic United attack rarely sent the ball his way. Only late in the game, when his team was desperate for a goal, did Adu get move into the middle of the field and help spark the attack.

It won't be that way with the U-20s. Even though he'll still be the youngest player on the roster, Adu will be the American team's undisputed star when the United States opens group play against Argentina on June 11.

"With that team, I'm more of a leader and everything goes through me. I'm ready for that," Adu said. "That helps your confidence, when you go out there and you know you're moving and getting a lot of touches on the ball. Bam, bam — you do your thing. And the great thing is I am allowed to do my thing on that team."

Forward Eddie Gaven and defender Jonathan Spector also are capable of leading the squad. The 18-year-old Gaven, the youngest player to sign an MLS contract before Adu, has four goals this season for the MetroStars, while Spector has played in four games for Manchester United.

Also joining Adu in the Netherlands are: forwards Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Sammy Ochoa (Tecos of Mexico), Jacob Peterson (Indiana) and Lee Nguyen; midfielders Brad Evans (UC-Irvine), Benny Feilhaber (UCLA), Will John (Chicago Fire), Sacha Kljestan (Seton Hall), Danny Szetela (Columbus Crew); defenders Greg Dalby (Notre Dame), Hunter Freeman (Colorado Rapids), Patrick Ianni (UCLA), Nathan Sturgis (Clemson), Tim Ward (MetroStars) and Marvell Wynne (UCLA); goalies Quentin Westberg (ESTAC Troyes), Andrew Kartunen (Stanford) and Justin Hughes (North Carolina).

That Adu doesn't get a chance to do his thing in MLS has been a source of debate since United made him the No. 1 overall draft pick last year at 14.

Although critics and fans wanted to see Adu play every minute possible, coach Peter Nowak was given credit for bringing the youngster along slowly. The rookie coach's methods were vindicated when Adu improved during the second half of the season — and when United won the league's title for the first time in five years.