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Report: Agbossoumonde heading to Braga on loan

Agbossoumonde (ISIphotos)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

U.S. U-20 national team defender Gale Agbossoumonde is on his way to Europe, becoming one of the first members of the U-20 World Cup side to secure a deal abroad.

According to Yanks Abroad, the Miami FC defender is heading to Portuguese league leaders Sporting Braga on a six-month loan deal. Braga holds an option to buy at the end of his loan spell. Rumors of a move have persisted since November, but a deal looks to be in place.

The 18-year-old has been with training with Braga since the end of December, the article reports, and will at first be a part of the youth team at the club. However, that doesn't mean he won't make any appearances for the first team, as the Portuguese league is set to resume this week after winter break. Braga is currently tied for the league lead in Portugal with Benfica.

What do you think of Agbossoumonde's move? Think he'll be able to engineer a permanent move to Braga?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I played with Gale growing up. He’s the real deal because of his attitude, the hardest worker I know. He’ll be great watch out.

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  2. Ok then Math corrected: not 40 milliion but 35 million paid in transfer fees and salaries: 35 million. Total First Division games played 10; Total First Division goals scored:2. Somesing still wrong here…

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  3. If he lives up to the HYPE he should easily be on the 2014 team… He and Lletget are the biggest prosepcts in our junior ranks.

    I think they both will make the 2014

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  4. 2014 looks to be a pretty strong squad for the US as is, and there’s no telling which unknowns might make a big leap. Exciting stuff!

    (Too bad Brazil should breeze through the WC like poop through a goose…)

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  5. The Dutch have never been known for having a good defense? But the U.S. is known for that?

    First, in most stories, no one talks about Brazil’s defense. But I think they have won a World Cup or two (or five). Plus, I think it is fair to say that the Dutch’s defense, even now, is pretty decent. They gave up TWO goals in the last round of Euro qualifying (in 8 games). And they didn’t have the toughest group, but .25 goals allowed per game? That’s impressive.

    And the U.S.’s “build-up” play and “offensive talent” doesn’t exactly seem to be rising exponentially. But put that aside for a moment and let’s talk about the U.S.’s “good defense”: In the final round of qualifying, the U.S. gave up 13 goals in ten games, including 3 to El Salvador, 3 to Honduras, and 5 (cough, cough) to Costa Rica. Then we can throw into the mix that they gave up 9 goals in 5 games at the Confederations Cup with their best defensive line-up (ok, those were some good teams); 8 goals in the Gold Cup, and 4 goals in their last two friendlies. No, that doesn’t qualify as good defense.

    I am not saying that we can’t be excited about talent, but it seems like jumping off the Agbossoumonde springboard like that destines you to land in a shallow pool. In other words, it’s too dangerous and speculative an assumption to make.

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  6. I thought that as well when I read he signed with a 3rd party. Does anyone have any clarification as to whether this is actually a 3rd party owning the players like Tevez/Mascherano were? Ives?

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  7. I like everything about this move.This should provide a quality learning experience with minimal pressure on the player. Regardless of whether he is offered a contract or not at the end of the loan Gale will walk away better for the experience.

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  8. To me this is another positive sign for the USNT, albeit a sign for the future and not the present. Since I don’t really see him as making the 2010 WC squad (Unless he really shines) and you look ahead to the 2014 WC there could be a seriously strong Midfield for the US. Bradley (26), Edu (28), Holden (29), Torres (26), Zizzo (27), Castillo (28), Pontius (27), Rogers (27), Donovan (32), Dempsey (31), Adu (25). There is serious potential from this group of players to field an incredible midfield if they stay healthy and/or continue to develop their game.

    Add in a Strong Keeper Mix of Howard (35)/Guzan (30), a Defense with Spector (28), Marshall (30), Gonzalez (26), Orozco (28), Cameron (29), Lichaj (26), Ogossoumode (23), Opare (25)and forwards Jozy (25), Grella (27), & Tracy (27). And they could be a formidable team.

    Again if they stay healthy and continue to develop.

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  9. This move itself isn’t bad, but signing with Traffic was a huge mistake in the first place. Not sure why these kids didn’t learn anything from the Tevez/Mascherano fiasco.

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  10. Reyna, Harkes, McBride, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Demeritt, Dempsey, Lewis, Bradley, Beasley & Rossi (yeah I went there)… would all disagree with your very idiotic statement…

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  11. Not that I know anything about the situation, but Braga is not a rubbish team and I guess they have several adequate defenders. And they are fighting for the no. 1 spot this season, and probably don’t want to take too many chances. So giving playing time to a player who’s on loan at the youth team doesn’t seem very likely. And of course central defenders aren’t usually substituted so it’s hard to get few minutes at the end.

    I just feel this loan is more of a long trial and they want to see what’s he really made of. Maybe Adu flopping made them cautious.

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  12. I’m not sure Dutch have never been known for good defense while the US is known has having good defense, bad build up play, and a impotent offense. We are slowly improving out offensive talent. We have 300 million people in this country and the following for the sport has been growing very steadily. The outlook is very good imo.

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  13. You shouldn’t be surprised if the U.S. doesn’t win the Cup in the next 20 years because it is hard to do. Just ask Cruyff, Riikjard, Seedorf, Bergkamp, Van Basten, etc. And yea, I am saying the Dutch were, are, and likely will be better than the U.S. for years to come.

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  14. Man this is all getting too good. In 20 years if we don’t win a cup with all the talent that is coming up I’ll be very surprised.

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  15. Let’s also not forget Keller, Friedel, Reyna, Cherundolo, Hahnemann, McBride, and Dempsey. We can also go back further and look at Harkes, Joe-Max Moore, Sannah, Lewis, and Ramos.

    They al played overseas and did quite well for themselves.

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  16. And a further bit of nonsensicality, who cares if Agbossoumonde doesn’t score? Isn’t his role to prevent that? The mind boggles.

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  17. Come on, your math is screwy. Charlie and Gooch are injured and don’t have a chance to contribute, and goals are hardly a good way to quantify the impact of a central defender anyway, plus Gooch was signed on a free transfer and has Champions League experience with Standard. Your games played numbers are also way off. Just in general, your comment is off.

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  18. Please correct my maths: altidore (10 million), adu (4.5million), eddie johnson (6.5 million), davies (5 million), onyewu (7 million). Salaries received approximately 7 million. Total: 40 million US $’s. Goals scored: 2. Games played in First Division: 10(?). Somesing wrong here Mr. Soccer Scout.

    (SBI-Where in the world did you hear that Eddie Johnson was sold for 6.5 million or Onywu was sold for $7 million? Onyewu went to Milan on a free an Johnson’s transfer was half the fee you’re quoting.)

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  19. as a student of US soccer player history (eddie johnson, adu, davies, altidore, onyewu,etc.), the statistics tellus he will never play, never score, and will be in the albanian 3rd division within 18 months.

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  20. One side of me says – great Clavijo! The other says…Miami FC is terrible. How about using those connections to better our local team?

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  21. This…is….news! Probably the most significant yanks abroad development other than Donovan to Everton. With the limited depth at central mid exposed by the recent injury plague, it is very reassuring to see a young US prospect getting goood opportunities to develop his game. Here’s hoping he makes the most of the
    !

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  22. This is pretty interesting. In the article it talks about Traffic (sport management company Fernando Clavijo works for) and they set this up. If i am not mistaken Traffic owns some teams and has partnerships with others (Braga being one). This is exciting becuase players are getting chances that might not have been open to them without the work Traffic is doing. Clavijo said that the goal is to help US players and the national team. I hope this continues.

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  23. Agbossoumonde is not a midget… that is the difference… I am quite confident he will get first team action… He is our next Gooch

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  24. Zilch. The centerback pairing is the one pairing you don’t want to change out during the season (see Manchester United this season (many changes) and last season (few changes). The centerbacks needs a very good understanding of themselves and the keeper.

    Let him lay low for a couple seasons, learn the ropes and dig into the team. Than he can explode onto the scene. Big difference between Miami and playing in Portugal – different atmosphere, playing style, tempo, etc. Expectations can cripple a player who believes in his hype (Adu).

    I will say I am a huge advocate of bringing youth to the World Cup in positions we will hardly use (i.e. the 8th defender or 5th striker). There should be room for 2-3 players who would greatly benefit from the experience. As I said before, in the US, we don’t want to include our youth in anything to do with the men’s squad until we need them, then we put them in the Gold Cup, World Cup, etc, and think they can perform straight away, without any previous experience in situations like that.

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  25. Bigger question: If he is able to secure the deal and some first team playing time, what does that say about Adu and his future? All I can say is that I hope he can find his way and some playing time in Greece.

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  26. Good for him, he’s a good player. Him and Opara are the future of the USMNT spine. He impressed in his trial so I hope he can learn from the experience.

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  27. Fairly impressive assuming the last few weeks of training have been a trial for him. Ives, what are you hearing on his chances to play first team football this season? If he did that would quickly get him on the radar for the World Cup squad.

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