Adriano agrees to join Corinthians
Reuters - Saturday 26 March 2011, 15:47
RIO DE JANEIRO - Troubled striker
Adriano has accepted a deal with Corinthians, returning to
Brazilian football to try to revamp his rollercoaster career once
again after a disappointing 10 months with AS Roma.
"Corinthians won't regret it, I'm a fighting player. I'm not
going there to create trouble, but to score goals," Adriano told
Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper in an exclusive interview published
on their website on Saturday.
Roma announced earlier this month they were rescinding their
contract with Adriano, who had signed until June 2013. The
29-year-old suffered a string of injuries, the most recent to
his right arm and shoulder.
The Italian side signed Adriano on the back on his fine
performances for Flamengo in 2009 when he helped the Rio de
Janeiro giants win the Brazilian league title, contributing 19
goals.
Adriano wanted to return to Flamengo, his first club, but
was not wanted by coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo due to off-field
problems involving drink and depression that led to him ending
his time with Inter Milan prematurely in April 2009.
"It was a bit of a downer but I have to live my life. They
could have at least spoken to me to see what I wanted but sadly
it wasn't possible," he said.
"I must carry on with my life which it to play football. I
hope to be happy at Corinthians."
Adriano denied leaving Roma over off-field troubles, saying:
"I simply saw no reason to stay on, I got injured three times, I
had no continuity of matches, I thought it was a sign to return
to Brazil.
"I know what I'm capable of. Now I must wait, work, train to
recover my form," added Adriano, a big, athletic player, strong
on the ball with a lethal left foot, who was nicknamed Emperor
when he was at Inter Milan.
Adriano, who hopes to regain his national team place, said
retired former Brazil striker Ronaldo convinced him joining
Corinthians was a good choice.
Adriano, who helped Brazil win the 2004 Copa America in Peru
but was one of the senior players blamed for their poor 2006
World Cup in Germany, had a spell on loan at Corinthians'
arch-rivals Sao Paulo in 2008.