Do you remember the hype? Of course you do. There has never been so much about an American soccer player. After signing with Benfica, many figured it was a matter of time before Adu would shine.

He was ordinary in the opening game of the Gold Cup against Grenada. He scored a goal that was a sitter. But other than a 30 yard chip over the goalkeeper that hit woodwork, there were no magical displays of his talent.

We witnessed the magic in 2003 at the U-17 World Cup when he scored four goals in group play.  We saw it again at the 2007 U-20 World Cup when he put a hat-trick past Poland and outshined Alexandre Pato in a group play match.

But his potential as a player remains largely unseen. He has shown capable moments, but has a long way to go before regaining his status as a top prospect.

Where did it go wrong? It started with his move to Real Salt Lake. Outsiders of MLS did not understand why a promising prospect would be transferred. The trade, coupled with the on-again off-again relationship with Peter Nowak, built a reputation as a potential team cancer. That caused many European clubs to stop evaluating him.

But he made the move to Europe, signing with Benfica. The manager that brought him in was fired shortly after. The new coaching staff did not rate him highly and he was shipped to AS Monaco on loan the next season.

It was more of the same at his new club. He developed the reputation of a defensive liability. There were also reports that he was not working hard in training. As a result, he only appeared in a few matches.

It is obvious that Adu is frustrated. He needs to find stability.  He is only 20 and has already played for four clubs. It is easy to see why he has regressed as a player.

But there is still time. He will return to Benfica after the Gold Cup with a chance to start fresh with another new manager. If he goes back and earns playing time, then it will show he has the maturity to be successful as a professional.

What do you think of Adu’s career so far? Should he look to get out of Benfica and get a fresh start? Does he still have the magic? Share your thoughts below.

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