MLS and US U-20 sending serious talent to the big boys

Most soccer fans in the US had to be impressed with their team at the U-20 World Cup last month as they made it all the way to the quarter finals. Some highlights included a 6-1 raping of Poland and a 2-1 victory over Brazil. As it turns out soccer fans in states weren't the only ones impressed. Its been less than a month since the US was eliminated in the tournament and already we've seen Freddy Adu off to Benfica, Sal Zizzo head to Hanover '96, and most recently Danny Szetela going to Iitalian giant AS Roma.

According to a recent SBI post U-20 star striker and FIFA08 cover player, Jozy Altidore, is interesting in leaving for Europe at the end the MLS season and could fetch a transfer fee of up to $10 million dollars. That should help cover some of New York Red Bulls losses.

So what do I think about all of this? While its obviously a loss for the league to lose such promising young talent at a time when the league is looking to aggressively expand its footprint in North America, it nonetheless shows that there is serious talent in the MLS and that Americans are capable of playing along side their supposedly superior European brethren. In the end it will give the MLS creditability in Europe and most importantly strength the talent pool for the USMNT.

Also don't be surprised if some of these players find themselves back in the MLS towards the end of their carriers. Hopefully they can play better than Ryena.