Adu's loan to Belenenses reportedly killed

It didn't take Toni, Belenenses' newly-appointed coach, much time to clean house. In his first training session with the Portuguese club, Toni axed Freddy Adu and Igor, apparently wanting to deal with a less bloated squad.

Both players were with the team on loan, so they returned to their respective employers. U.S. international Freddy Adu will rejoin Benfica, according to Portuguese daily Record. Brazilian Igor came from Spanish side Sevilla.

While yet to be confirmed, if Record's initial claim proves accurate, it would cap off a poor year for 20-year-old Adu. Since his $2 million move to Benfica from Major League Soccer, the former teenage prodigy has struggled to find time in Europe. And ill-fated loan move to Monaco saw little time as Adu represented the marketing-versus-ability tug-of-war between the president and coach.

The coach won, and Adu returned to Benfica with as little playing time as he had left with. Unable to force himself into the Belenenses lineup, Adu now faces questions over his ability to develop into the attacking talent his younger years suggested he could. --Goal.com