By BRIAN LEWIS
Hunter Freeman wonât be back with the Red Bulls next season. Not only has the Post confirmed that the 23-year-old is bound for Europe this winter, but it sure looks like heâs played his last game in a Red Bull uniform.
âHeâs decided to go in a different direction. I respect that. Iâm disappointed because I think heâs a good player,ââ said Juan Carlos Osorio, who doesnât seem inclined to play Freeman the rest of the year. âBut he decided to move in a different direction, so we have to move in a different direction.ââ
That direction very well could be toward Norway. Back on July 25 we pointed out the Norwegian media was saying Freeman had hammered out a deal to join IK Start in January once his four-year MLS contract expired. Now it appears that contract is a done deal.
âHe had a contract offer from somewhere else. He came to us and requested an offer; we werenât in a position to do it back then,ââ Osorio said. âLetâs face it; we all have to pass an exam here, including myself. If we donât, we all know what happens. This game is about results.
âSo he decided to take an offer somewhere else. I respect that; Iâm disappointed, but life goes on. We move on as a club. I have to consider players that are going to be here for the near future. My opinion was we needed to wait longer to make a decision.ââ
Freeman is officially still on the Red Bullsâ roster, and hasnât been sold to finance their striker search. When I asked Osorio if itâs just his policy not to use players that have signed pre-contracts elsewhere, or have one foot out the door, he said it was.
âIâve been in that situation. When a player knows that heâs leaving, itâs very difficult to ask a player to be 100 percent committed to the club,ââ Osorio said. âI donât want any more distractions.ââ
Start is the same club that trialed Clint Mathis this summer and employs ex-Dallas defender Clarence Goodson, so I guess they have a thing for Yanks. But after finishing 13th last season they were relegated to Adeccoligaen.