( CNN ) -- There is no title in football that hangs heavier on the shoulders of a young player than that of teenage prodigy . A spell at Benfica could help Adu adjust to the pressures of European football . Those who can carry it -- Pele , Maradona , Ronaldo , Ronaldinho -- go on to become the greatest players in the game . Those who ca n't fade into obscurity -- Nii Lamptey anyone ? The jury is still out on whether Freddy Adu -- like Lamptey Ghanaian-born -- will fall into the first category or the second , but the footballing world should soon be a little closer to finding out after the 18-year-old 's move this week from the shallow waters of Real Salt Lake and the MLS to Benfica of Portugal . Adu , who moved to the U.S. as a child and has American citizenship , already has three seasons under his belt in the MLS , having made his professional debut at 14 . As an MLS player his progress has been steady if unspectacular for a player inevitably compared to the incomparable Pele . Indeed , in the eyes of some -- unfairly -- Adu has already failed to live up to the expectations placed on him . In 2003 an MLS coach told Sports Illustrated , shortly before Adu signed a $ 1 million contract with Nike , that Adu would start for the U.S. at the 2006 World Cup . To date he has just a solitary international cap to his name . `` Freddy , when we signed him , was one of most talented young players in the world . I think , today , he still is one of most young talented players in the world , '' says MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis . `` What we 've struggled with is the expectations , not that we 've placed on him , but that the media has placed on him . '' For a player feted as a future major world star though , Benfica is perhaps not the destination those who had mapped out his career along the lines of the Hollywood soccer trilogy `` Goal '' would have chosen . The Lisbon club may be one of European football 's greatest names , but it is a long time -- just one Portuguese title in 13 years -- since they were one of the Europe 's great teams and Adu had previously been linked with the likes of Real Madrid , Inter Milan , Manchester United or Chelsea . Yet by favoring Benfica over bigger clubs , Adu 's advisors have actually made a smart move . Moving to Portugal will give the teenager a chance to acclimatise to the higher standards and tougher expectations of European football away from the high-pressure atmosphere of one of the continent 's true giants . Adu is also following a well-worn path for non-European youngsters . Ronaldinho first signed for Paris Saint Germain when he first left Brazil , while Ronaldo originally settled at Dutch side PSV Eindhoven . Both subsequently moved onto greatness at Barcelona ; U.S. soccer fans will be willing Adu to make a similar leap upwards from Benfica sooner rather than later . E-mail to a friend .
U.S. soccer prodigy Freddy Adu signs for European side U.S. . Ghanian-born Manchester United hailed as saviour of Benfica soccer since age of 13 . Had been linked with bigger clubs including Manchester United , Real Madrid . Move to lesser club could help the 18-year-old adapt to Portuguese football .