Greg Seltzer reports that Freddy Adu's loan prospects with Danish side Odense are bleak, after negotiations with Benfica broke down.

The American forward/midfielder will continue to train with his Portuguese club in the interim; a loan deal would still appear to be in the cards at some point, with Adu not figuring in Benfica's immediate plans.

Seltzer's information is that the snag occurred over Benfica's portion of Adu's salary during the loan; Odense wanted them to pay more than they were offering (I assume). The report also indicates that while the loan deal is off for the time being, talks could restart at a later date. It's unclear if another club's interest has affected Benfica's position, or if another deal is imminent.

This isn't good new for those of us who truly want Adu to get a chance to succeed; Denmark, Portugal, Holland; at this point, it doesn't matter, and Adu just needs to play. The chances of his making the World Cup roster next year (especially in light of the emergence of Stuart Holden) are growing dimmer by the day, and a loan with playing time assured is the first step towards him getting back into the national team picture.

For all of the setbacks that Adu has brought on himself, it's unfortunate that something like this, typical loan negotiations gone bad (for now) that are out of his control may put off his growth once again.