Brazilian champions Sao Paulo began training for the 2008 season this week with attention focused on whether Adriano, signed on loan from Inter Milan last month, really can put his career back on the rails.
Beset by fitness and reported alcohol problems, Adriano’s career has taken a meteoric fall in the last two seasons when he has barely featured for either Inter or Brazil.
After signing for Sao Paulo last month, Adriano promised to turn over a new leaf — but only 48 hours was photographed at a pop concert in Rio de Janeiro with a can of beer in his hand. Although he was on holiday at the time, it hardly sent to the right message to his many doubters.
Last week there was more speculation about his nocturnal habits after he was involved in a minor car accident in Rio. Adriano escaped unscathed but the fact that it happened in the early hours of the morning once again set the alarm bells ringing.
With with the holidays now over, Adriano must know that there can be no more excuses. Sao Paulo is a city full of temptations and dangers — will he be able to keep on the straight and narrow?
PHOTO: Adriano wipes his face after Inter’s 2-0 win over Catania at San Siro stadium in Milan, September 16, 2007. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
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5 comments so far
I really hope he does get back on track. He was the outstanding player at the Confederations Cup in Germany in 2005 and I’ve been shocked to see how his career has gone since then.
- Posted by kevyeah it is sad to see such a talented player wasting his career in the way he has been, i hope he turns it around and returns to top level european football
- Posted by markFrom Inter’s point of view it is amazing how well they have coped with losing what was their best player 2 seasons ago. Being able to pick up Ibrahimovic when Juve were relegated obviously helped but the way Roberto Mancini dumped Adriano as soon as he saw there was a problem was very Ferguson-esque.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsI doubt we’ll see Adriano here in Italy again but the fact he turned down a lucrative move to England in August suggests he knows his head is not right and beeing back home will probably help.
I agree with Mark, West Ham were reportedly interested and he refused a move there. I too hope he can get his head screwed back on, but the move back to Brazil doesn’t seem to have helped. It’s still early doors though of course.
I wonder if he does put all this in the past and starts showing why Inter once bought him, if any big clubs will take a chance with him?
- Posted by Fabetting Capello[...] is out of excuses (Reuters Soccer Blog) Category: World Football Tags: Daily Dose, Jurgen Klinsmann, Liverpool, Clarence [...]
- Posted by Daily Dose 01.12.08 - World Football - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world