Ghana-born teen prodigy hailed as US savior

Freddy Adu, a 14-year-old Ghana-born American billed as the savior of football in the United States, makes his professional debut with skills already drawing comparison to a young Pele.

Turning down bids from Manchester United and other European powers to play for his hometown team, Adu will take the field for D.C. United against the reigning champion San Jose Earthquakes in the Major League Soccer opener.

Adu is already a millionaire footballer without having played among the pro adults, signing a one million-dollar Nike endorsement deal and a 500,000-dollar contract with 10-team MLS, which is banking its success on Adu's star power.

Adu's first television commercial will be a soft drink advertisement with Brazilian legend Pele, who 30 years ago was hailed as the US soccer savior when he played for the now-defunct New York Cosmos.

"That was a fantastic moment," Adu said of meeting the man who in "football and the rest was my idol."

Adu said Pele told him: "God gave you the talent. It's your talent and you are the only one who can use it."

In 1998, Adu's family won the US immigration lottery and moved here from Ghana. His talent was so heralded that an Italian club pitched a 750,000-dollar offer at age 10.

Now his mother, who once worked two jobs to keep the family in a two-room apartment, is building a new home that should be ready when Adu turns 15 in June, ending the millionaire's days of bedroom sharing with a younger brother.

What Adu lacks in size at 1.73m and 62kg he makes up for with his dazzling footwork, his visionary insight into the game, his ability to work well with teammates and a winning smile and personality that help fan his celebrity.

"The best solution is that I raise my game," Adu said.

He figures to lift the US league with him. DC United has already sold out his opener, although the club has trimmed its home-field capacity to 24,600 this season to try and create a "hot ticket" fever around Adu.

United won three of the first four MLS titles but barely reached the playoffs last season. As the league embarks upon its ninth campaign, Adu's presence boosts hopes of finding a home with a new generation of spectators.

As much as Adu will mean for US soccer clubs, the national team cannot wait to have him in the fold in the 2006 World Cup at Germany after a breakthrough run at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea (news - web sites).

"I'm only 14," Adu said. "Of course I would like to play in England or Spain and in Germany in 2006 with the national team."

By then he will be 17, the same age as Pele in 1958.