http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Sep27.html
Adu Invited for Under-20 Tryouts
From News Services and Staff Reports
Sunday, September 28, 2003; Page E03
Teenage soccer phenom Freddy Adu has been invited to participate in a tryout camp for the U.S. under-20 national team, sources said, and could represent the United States in the upcoming world championships.
Adu, whose family moved to the Washington area from Ghana in 1997, will join the under-20 team for several days of training beginning Oct. 5 and hopes to make the team that will compete in FIFA's World Youth Championships in November in the United Arab Emirates.
Thomas Rongen, coach of the under-20 team, told The Washington Post last month that Adu, who has a $1 million deal with Nike, would not be invited to the camp, citing the lack of sufficient time to evaluate new players. However, sources said that Rongen has changed his mind and Adu was informed of the decision about a week ago. Rongen did not return phone messages, and a spokesman for U.S. Soccer would say only that the roster of players invited to the under-20 camp will likely be released in a few days.
Adu, 14, starred in the Under-17 World Championships for the United States last month in Finland and his agent is mulling offers from several of Europe's biggest clubs. A decision on which team Adu will sign his first professional contract with could be forthcoming, and a possibility remains that Adu could play for D.C. United next season as a part of a loan arrangement between his European team and Major League Soccer. . . .