WTF has this got to do with Arsenal?
I met him for a couple of times when he was on loan at Belenenses, he was supposed to be 20 then and he really did look much older. Much much older...
Try a search. He already has his own thread and this loan was discussed there when it happened - in January.
I´m sorry.
Yes. It's very difficult for immigration agents in the US to see age differences in children.
So, he when he immigrated, his mother said he was 6 but he was actually 18? Interesting. I guess it's easy for immigration agents and schools to overlook a giant man in their 1st grade class.
Taken 2 1/2 years ago when he was barely 19.
19 going on 32.
I guess that would explain why he hasn't been successful ANYWHERE. I mean, he was good in the U-20 World Cup but other than that, pretty shit everywhere, including the MLS. There's a reason Benfica only paid a million for him - because he's never really been good. They only wanted him to sell shirts.
Very true, he never did that great in MLS so why did anyone think he was going to become a force in a better league? I still think he can become a good player but he will obviously never live up to the hype.
My friend Mike had a full moustache at 13. He went bald at 25. And I knew him since we were toddlers.
This was taken just 2 1/2 weeks ago...
Taken 2 1/2 years ago when he was barely 19.
19 going on 32.
Did he move to England and become a citizen when he was a child?This guy was suspended from school in England very recently because they suspected he was 24, a passport was produced saying he is 14.
I see. So in your opinion Africans are so good at football that if they are the right age they will ALWAYS become super stars after early promise?
Yeah, so...those are Africans, living in Africa.
What? The headline says that alot of these players had a false age proof. Hence it isn't too outlandish for people to suspect a player, who shows early promise and then fades away, to have a false age proof to excel at lower age groups.
Even a 2 year age gap makes a big difference at u20 levels. It may be a conspiracy theory in THIS case but, I repeat, not outlandish to think so.Yeah, so...those are Africans, living in Africa.
The discussion here is of an American who immigrated when he was eight to the nation least interested in football in the world, apparently, to play football.
It's genius.
RIGHT. There's no way he could have been a kid whose talent was overblown to pump up a new league in a country that didn't give a shit about football.
hes fat
Taken 2 1/2 years ago when he was barely 19.
19 going on 32.
what the feck happened in this thread."He was subsequently touted as the next Pelé; by Pelé himself."
You don't understand immigration people. Just for an example these boys where all classified to be under the age of 18. Most of them said 15-16 to make sure they got in - and they did.So, he when he immigrated, his mother said he was 6 but he was actually 18? Interesting. I guess it's easy for immigration agents and schools to overlook a giant man in their 1st grade class.
I hope he grows into that BlazerThis guy was suspended from school in England very recently because they suspected he was 24, a passport was produced saying he is 14.
So, he when he immigrated, his mother said he was 6 but he was actually 18? Interesting. I guess it's easy for immigration agents and schools to overlook a giant man in their 1st grade class.
What makes you think that from the article? Just curious.
That is absolutely mental.
Taken 2 1/2 years ago when he was barely 19.
19 going on 32.
Because he was apparently good at a young age and then didn't become mature into a decent player in adulthood. Something that has never, ever happened before.
Don't then.
A little unlikely that a 6 or 7 year old was playing against 18/21 yearolds, no?
It's very, very rare that a child is so phyically developed that they are happy to play him with players much older. It's not even allowed in England (I can't imagine America are less strict), you are allowed to play in the age group above you as a maximum.
10 years old compared to 14 years old is a huge difference in terms of Footballing development even if you have an abnormal physique
14 years old and playing against men? I've not heard of it before or since. The youngest previous to Adu was Gaven who was 16 years old and 2 months, about the same age as Rooney.
Wherever their is corruption, poverty and kids looking to get out thru sports, you will have false passports and birth certificates. This is no different than what goes on in Latin American countries for kids trying to play baseball in the states.
