A SERIOUX SIGNING Metros ink deals with Serioux, Ikangu
Adrian Serioux (above) and Elie Ikangu have agreed to contract terms with the Metros.
By Dylan Butler
BigAppleSoccer.com Associate Editor
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The MetroStars search for a replacement for Michael Bradley in defensive midfield has come to an end. Canadian international Adrian Serioux and French teenager Elie Ikangu have agreed to contract terms and an official annoucement is pending visa approval. Serioux will be a senior international while Ikangu will be a junior international.
Serioux, 26, most recently played for Millwall of the English Second Division but returned home for personal reasons. He has made eight apperances for the Canadian national team and his most recent cap came in a scoreless draw against the U.S. Jan. 22.
"I wouldn't say really good," Metros coach Mo Johnston said when asked about Serioux's pre-season thus far. "I'd say he did enough to make us sign him. With his height and experience, it helps us in that midfield area. He's strong, is passing more to Amado [Guevara] and Youri [Djorkaeff] and will sit in that pocket and get tackles in. That's what we want from Adrian."
Serioux is currently with the Canadian national team, which is preparing for an international friendly at Austria Wednesday. He is not expected to play, having suffered a broken toe in training last week.
Ikangu, 19, has played with Newcastle's Charles N'Zogbia at French side Le Harve and was compared to Chelsea's Claude Makelele by Johnston.
But Ikangu is not quite as strong as Makelele and that's the reason he didn't stick with English Second Division side Darlington or English Premiership side Middlesbrough, where he was on trial in January.
