For years, Abu Danladi has professed a dream of playing against some of Europe’s best.



When he was mulling an offer to join the 2016 MLS Generation Adidas class, he ultimately passed in favor of exploring options across the Atlantic. When nothing transpired, he left UCLA early to join the 2017 SuperDraft pool.



For weeks leading up to the event, there was debate around who then-expansion side Minnesota United would select. They had hosted Jeremy Ebobisse for two weeks of training the previous summer, knowing full well what he could provide despite his absence from the start of the combine. Meanwhile, Jackson Yueill had grown up in their own backyard, starring for the Minnesota Thunder Academy before leaving for UCLA.



Ultimately, they selected Danladi. Head Coach Adrian Heath had come off of a stretch where he had helped C.J. Sapong, Dom Dwyer, and Cyle Larin all grow into double-digit MLS goalscorers. He was confident that Danladi had as much upside as...