Freddy Adu is no longer on trial with the Portland Timbers.
Adu trained with the Timbers for two weeks in Arizona, but did not return with the club to Portland Sunday.
Adu is famous for being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft when he was just 14-years-old. At the time, he was sometimes referred to as “America’s Pele” and was expected to go on to be an American superstar. But Adu has had a journeyman’s career, competing for 13 teams since 2004.
Timbers coach Caleb Porter, who coached Adu with the U.S. U-23 National Team in 2012, made the decision to invite the 27-year-old into preseason camp this year. But after two weeks of evaluating Adu, Porter said it became clear that there wasn’t space for him on the roster.
“Freddy is no longer with us,” Porter said. “He had two weeks and we were up front and honest with him about where we’re at. More than anything, you look at the depth, there’s just not going to be a spot.”
One Trialist remains
While Adu is no longer with the Timbers, trialist Jhamir Ordain is still training with the Timbers. The Timbers are evaluating Ordain as depth at center back and right back and Porter said it is still possible that Ordain could earn a contract.
“He’s one out of the three that we’re going to keep around a little bit and take a look and still make a decision on,” Porter said. “He could still be an option to sign.”
Former Timbers forward Ryan Johnson will also likely be training with the team in Portland, but Porter made it clear that Johnson is not on tria and the club is not evaluating him as a potential signee.
Signing a center back
Porter is hopeful that the Timbers will be signing a new center back within the “next week or so.”
The Timbers made the decision to sign a new starting center back after Gbenga Arokoyo went down with a season-ending Achilles injury in Arizona last week. Porter said that the club wants to bring in a center back quickly so that the new player has enough time to adjust to the Timbers before the start of the regular season.
“We’ve got targets and options and are already in discussions right now to try to pull the trigger,” Porter said. “We’re hoping in the next week or so we get a guy in because preseason is closing quick and we need time to integrate that player.”
Sebastian Blanco’s adjustment to the Timbers
Designated player Sebastian Blanco trained full out with the Timbers Tuesday and is expected to see his first game minutes with Portland during the Timbers Preseason Tournament, which begins Thursday.
Porter said that he expects Blanco, who joined the Timbers last week, to be able to adjust quickly to Portland. Blanco speaks some English and previously played with Timbers playmaker Diego Valeri at Argentine club Lanus — both positive things that Porter said will help his adjustment.
“He’s proven,” Porter said. “He’s 28 years old. You know what you get with him. You can look at the goals he’s scored and what he’s produced.”
The Timbers Preseason Tournament
The Timbers will return to Providence Park Thursday to face Real Salt Lake in their annual preseason tournament.
Porter said he plans to play his starters for 60 minutes Thursday as the group continues to build minutes and chemistry on the field.
“I can’t wait to get into a less artificial environment with a crowd on our home field,” Porter said. “It’ll start to feel like it’s a little bit more real.”
— Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com
503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg
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