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ESPN staff 9y

Freddy Adu close to signing deal with Tampa Bay Rowdies of NASL - report

Former U.S. phenom Freddy Adu is close to signing a deal with Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League, according to a report.

Adu, 26, has not played in the U.S. since leaving the Philadelphia Union in 2012, and Goal.com reported he has chosen to sign with Tampa Bay after receiving offers from a number of teams in NASL, one level below MLS.

The Rowdies are coached by Thomas Rongen, who previously mentored Adu with the United States at the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, where Adu scored a hat trick against Poland.

Since leaving MLS, Adu has struggled to find a permanent home, playing briefly in Brazil, Serbia and Finland. Earlier this week, he left Finnish side KuPS after just three months.

Adu has rarely lived up to the potential he showed when making his professional debut with D.C. United as a 14-year-old in 2004. A 2007 move to Benfica saw him go out on a series of loans, and a brief revival with the Union ended in a contract dispute.

He has made 17 appearances for the U.S. national team, but none since current manager Jurgen Klinsmann took over the side in 2011.

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