Sports | soccer 7 Cuban Soccer Players Defect to US Five are already in talks with pro team in Miami By Matt Cantor Posted Mar 13, 2008 12:27 PM CDT Copied The US's Freddy Adu (11) fights with Cuba midfielder Yordany Alvarez (10) as Cuban Enrique, back left, and the US's Dax McCarty, back right, trail in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, March 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) See 1 more photo Seven Cuban soccer players defected from the national team over the last two days—five on Tuesday and two last night—slipping from their Tampa hotel after a game to seek asylum in the US, the Miami Herald reports. The first five have contacted a lawyer and are in discussions with a second-tier soccer team, Miami FC; they may start training as soon as today, Reuters reports. The loss of seven players could be the team’s downfall in Olympic trials. “Anytime a Cuban team comes to the United States, there's a chance someone might defect,” said a Miami soccer coach who scouted the players during a 1-1 tie with the US. Even the players' families didn't know they'd defect. “My heart will be in Cuba with my family, but I want to have the freedom to better my life, to play professional soccer, to be the best I can be,” said the former captain, Yenier Bermudez. Read These Next White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Supreme Court ruling is a big blow to Planned Parenthood. Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. See 1 more photo Report an error