• by Cole O'Brien, writing from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

So many years ago Freddy Adu was introduced in to the league that would later shun him, but then re-embrace him. During that time the 14-year-old was presented to the world as the messiah of American soccer. Now Freddy Adu has returned not as the over-hyped 14-year-old, but a man. A man who has endured countless unsuccessful loans throughout Europe, a season in the Turkish Second Division, a self-proclaimed Twitter ban, constant media criticism, and two years away from the international scene.

Despite not playing in the USMNT friendly against Mexico, Adu still made headlines in Philadelphia on Friday. The now 22-year-old man was reintroduced into Major League Soccer when he signed for the Philadelphia Union from Beneficia on a free transfer. Sitting beside his formed D.C. United coach Peter Nowak, Adu thanked the MLS Commissioner, the league, and his fans for everything that had happened.

“I think I’m a better player today than when I left MLS four years ago,” said Adu, who left the MLS in 2007 after a transfer to Real Salt Lake. “When you’re a teenager, it’s a little bit different. As the years go on, you get better and mature and start to put things together. Sometimes I didn’t handle some of the ways Peter was trying to get the message across to me very well. When I first came into the league, I was 14, 15, 16 — I was a kid, you know. When I got to Europe, I realized I needed that.

Throughout his time at D.C. United from 2004-2006 Adu clashed constantly with re-united coach Nowak. Adu was constantly charged as the immature teenager who couldn't handle Nowak's views. These clashes were partly why Adu left to Real Salt Lake in 2007. Yet Adu and Nowak kept in contact throughout the years. Freddy Adu played on the 2008 Olympic Team under his former coach. They talked even more after the attacking midfielder's spectacular performance throughout the last two games of the 2011 Gold Cup under ex-coach Bob Bradley. “We’ve had a lot of conversations over the years after the DC time and we felt like we were coming closer with each other and we began to understand each other more and more,” Nowak said. “I think it’s a great sign he can be part of my team again. I welcome him with open arms.”

“He’s always been a father figure,” Adu was quoted, “He was always trying to steer me in the right direction. Sometimes you get into arguments with your dad, too, right? … Peter will never let you slack. I love that. Sometimes as a player, you need that. You need someone to be on you, to keep you on your toes, to push you. I’m excited about this opportunity. I always thought that Peter was just on me all the time for whatever reason. But, you know what, he was trying to make me better, he really was.”

You could tell though that Nowak and the Philadelphia Union as a whole were poised to derail any over-hype that caused Adu's first MLS venture to spiral into a train wreck. Throughout the press conference Adu and Nowak dodged and twisted any questions regarding what impact the number eleven would have in the Philadelphia Union's playoff aspirations. It is still not known if or not we will see Adu playing against FC Dallas or wether we will have to wait for his second debut in the MLS.

Despite the outcome, the message was clear after the Friday morning press conference in Philadelphia; Freddy Adu Has Come Back A Changed Man. As the conference winded down to a close the reunited coach and player were seem smiling leaving the room with a clean slate.

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