Freddy bids Adu to United

Highly-rated American teenager Freddy Adu has left Washington DC United to join fellow Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake.

The Ghana-born player, 17, is a reported target for Barclays Premiership big guns Manchester United and Chelsea but is not allowed to move to Europe until he turns 18 on June 2 next year and has now been traded.

Adu is expected to be given the chance to occupy his preferred attacking midfield role at the Utah franchise.

DC United president and chief executive officer Kevin Payne told the club’s official website dcunited.mlsnet.com: “This was a difficult decision for all of us at DC United.

“Freddy has been a valued member of our team both on and off the field for three years.

“We appreciate that he wanted the opportunity to play a different role on the field than he would have been afforded here and he will apparently get that opportunity in Salt Lake. We wish him nothing but the best.”