The attacker experienced many struggles while still in MLS, but has accelerated his growth with the move overseas last summer.

"We've seen a lot of young athletes in different sports that when they come on the scene, they get a lot of attention and he was one of them," Bradley told AP.

"When the spotlight is on like that, just learning every day what you need to do to become a better player, earning the respect of your teammates - all those things sometimes become second to the spotlight and I think now Freddy has seen the bigger picture - he is maturing," said the coach.

"Going to Europe took him out of the U.S. soccer spotlight a little bit and put him in an environment where he had to earn respect every day."