Adu happy to be in Portugal

NEW YORK — Freddy Adu's off to Europe later this week, still the center of attention and ready to be in the center of the field.

"I can't wait to get started," said Adu, who's moving from Real Salt Lake to 31-time Portuguese champion Benfica for a $2 million transfer fee. "Coach made it clear that I'll be a pretty big part. If they're going to spend that kind of money on someone, they're going to showcase them."

To Adu, that means allowing him to play his natural position, the central attacking midfielder. That's the position that earned him praise and attention as a youth, interest from Italy's Inter Milan at age 10 and an early call to the U.S. under-17 national team.

But in MLS, the 18-year-old was mostly used on the outside wings of midfield, first with D.C. and then Real Salt Lake. He scored five goals in 30 games his first season, but had fewer goals each season since.

International interest in Adu was reinvigorated during the Under-20 World Cup last month in Canada, where Adu was credited with helping the United States to the quarterfinals. Benfica, he says, "was the first to come to the table."

Adu, getting his things together at his suburban home in Maryland, will leave for Portugal on Sunday, with Benfica scheduled to begin play in a European Champions League qualifier Aug. 14 and start Portuguese league play the following weekend.

"I'm pretty sure I'll get thrown in right away," Adu said. "Then again, it's not a done deal. I still have to earn the right to be on the field."

Regardless, he doesn't regret leaving MLS and brushed off criticism that he never had his heart in MLS.

"People are going to say stuff," he said. "I tried hard for every team I played for. I have heard that I didn't give it all I had. I did give my all."