Adu makes peace with D.C. United

WASHINGTON -- Freddy Adu has made peace with D.C. United, and the teenager who was disgruntled over lack of playing time now plans to return next season.

"I'm excited to remain with D.C. United," Adu said in an interview posted on the team's Web site. "I'm working hard to improve my game this offseason in order to become a bigger part of the team next season."

Adu, his mother and his agent met with United officials recently, and the 16-year-old forward also held separate meetings with coach Peter Nowak in Florida to clear the air over Adu's role on the team.

"I feel that I made substantial improvement from year one to two," Adu said. "I hope that I continue to improve and that I can utilize my ability to better contribute to the success of the team going forward."

Adu vented his frustrations to reporters in October while United was preparing for the opening game of the playoffs. He said he should be playing "a lot more," even though he had started 16 of 25 regular-season games and averaged about 60 minutes per appearance as a second-year player.

He said lack of playing time wrecked his chances of making the U.S. World Cup team and left open the possibility that he would leave United at the end of the season.

United responded by suspending Adu for the playoff opener against Chicago. He returned as a substitute in Game 2 against the Fire, who eliminated United with a 4-0 victory.

Nowak has consistently resisted outside pressure to play Adu more, citing a team-first mentality ahead of the fervor over a crowd- drawing prodigy. Nowak led United to the MLS Cup title as a rookie coach in 2004.

"It was good to sit down with Freddy away from the pressure and emotion of the season," Nowak said. "Seeing Freddy succeed as a member of our team and meet individual expectations are both priorities for me."

Adu has nine goals and nine assists over two MLS seasons. He played in every regular-season game his rookie year and missed regular-season games this year only when he was injured or in Finland playing for the U.S. team in the World Youth Championship.

Despite his concerns over getting a shot at making the World Cup team, Adu will be invited to the U.S. national team camp next month, coach Bruce Arena said last week. However, Adu is considered a long shot to make the final roster.

"We're not necessarily bringing him in to play in the World Cup," Arena said. "We're just looking at him. There's other players in that same position.

"We're bringing in about 28 players in January with a World Cup roster of 23 players plus the pool of players in Europe. Obviously if you do the math, most of those players coming in in January are not going to be part of our World cup roster."

United president Kevin Payne had maintained Adu would not be traded or released this offseason.

Even so, next season could be Adu's last in MLS. His goal is to play for a major European club, and he will be eligible for a transfer when he turns 18 in June 2007.

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