GOAL Convo: Adu discussed his expectations for Sullivan and the state of the American youth soccer systemFreddy Adu might not have grown up in the social media era, but if there was a 2004 equivalent of “going viral,” he lived it. Joining MLS at 14, he became the face of a league desperate to attract fans. Commercials with Pelé? Check. Mega endorsement deals? Absolutely. Pushing for senior-team minutes as a teen? Whatever it took to market a still-developing talent once linked to Manchester United and Tottenham before signing with D.C. United.Adu says American soccer is in a much better place now than when he launched his career.”There’s a big change,” Adu told GOAL. “When I was coming up, the whole youth system was new; it wasn’t as big. There weren’t a lot of resources, so your pathway was either the youth national team or college. That’s how most people went pro. Now, there’s money in the youth systems, more opportunities – and that’s great for young players.”While Adu is remembered by many as a player who didn’t match outsized expectations, his career spanned more than a decade with stops at clubs such as Benfica and Monaco. The improved infrastructure in MLS gives him hope for another hyped teenager, Cavan Sullivan. The 15-year-old Philadelphia Union prospect is very much viral – he posted a highlight reel on TikTok this week that drew more than 570,000 likes in just three days.Adu spoke with GOAL, via the home of football odds, about his expectations for Sullivan, soccer in America and how the U.S. youth system stacks up against England’s in the latest GOAL Convo, a recurring Q&A with central figures in the American game.NOTE: This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
