Should Jozy Altidore’s Next Road Trip Be A Long One?

When you’re on the cover of a video game next to Ronaldinho and there’s talk of the world’s richest clubs targeting you, it’s hard not to get a big head. Luckily, 18-year-old American prodigy Jozy Altidore, who’s on the cover of FIFA 08 and has had Real Madrid scouting him, seems to have his head on straight. But that’s what everyone said about Freddy Adu, and he had to go overseas and play in Portugal to get his game on. So learning from that, can we save him for MLS duty, or is he going to have to get shipped overseas to get the training so one day (we can hope!) the Americans don’t have to have World Cup advantage to pass the second round?

“People are anxious to put him on a platform,” said Bruce Arena, the former U.S. national team coach and Altidore’s coach last season on the Red Bulls. “He needs to get better, in all phases: holding the ball, running off the ball. We all need to appreciate that he’s still only 18 years old.”

“He’s now considered one of the best American soccer players ever,” New York Red Bulls teammate Juan Pablo Angel said. “He’s still a kid. He has the ability to play in any league he wants. But he has to establish himself in MLS. Because now people are going to pay attention to him.”

Yes, but for how long? When should he take one for the team (literally) and head over to Spain and hone his game… in and out of the rain… because now he’s got that fame. Sorry. It’s hard to stop one we get to Spain rhymin’.
Altidore being hailed as America’s prodigy [Fox Sports]
Image [cnn.com]