Football is selfish and all what it wants from you, is to fully dedicate yourself to it. As soon as you turn to other things and put down the ball, football will abandon you and leave you like jealous girlfriend. Football seek passion only for itself, and Adriano beside football, had more other passions. Passion for alcohol, parties, gorgeous girls, instant pleasures and football don’t stand that. He had a whole world beneath his foots, he was best striker of the world at the time, he showed what he can do in football and anyway, he turned to other things. Those thing that poor people only can see in movies.
The Rise
Born in Rio de Janeiro's poor quarter or favela, he played football on the street in the hood full of drugs and violence where law of stronger applies. Only way and salvation from such place, for him and his family, was football. His left foot, constitution, speed and stamina, have gave him enormous predisposition to become the greatest in this sport, with strong will to succeed and be successful. God looked at him and enables that to him. Adriano could achieve much more if he were focused only on sport.
Flamengo is his club. He played there in younger categories and made a debut for first team in 2000. Only one season was enough, for European teams to notice him and go crazy about him. In that debut season he scored 17 goals on 24 appearances.
Inter was his destination team and they bought him for 13 million euros. First half of the season for Adriano was not so great, he scored only 1 goal on 14 games, while other half he spent in Fiorentina on loan where on 15 matches scored 6 goals.
Parma sees in him great future and for 9 million euros bring 20 year old Adriano. They had back then, in the team, lot of future potential football stars. Mutu, Canavaro, Gilardino and more. That was the team of great potential and low success. Because of bad financial situation, they couldn’t hold together all those players and sale comes on. Inter was aware of mistake that they made by selling Adriano so for the second time the bought Adriano. Only this time for 23 million euros. Adriano have scored 26 goals on 44 matches for Parma.
For Brasil he played 50 games and scored 29 goals, with Ronaldo in front, they made the best attack in the world. He conquer and won South American Cup and Confederations Cup in 2005.
Returned to Inter in 2004, in second half of the season was his highlight of the career. He was on the peak and on the top of the game. He was going through his best and last football moments. In that half season he scored 12 goals on 18 appearances. He had two more good seasons for Inter, so they decided to renew his contract so he become the most payed player in the club.
The Fall
This was the biggest mistake and fall of the big football star is triggered. In season 2006/07, he was more regular in night clubs rather on trainings. Word have spread to back than Brasil coach Dunga, who publicly criticize him, and pointed to him to get serious and focus on football. Adriano should have been in greatest form, he was 25, but he become addicted to various bad things, and his physical state was awful, he had 10 kg more than he should have. In Inter, they noticed that he goes to bad way so they decided to send him home, loaning him to Sao Paulo, hopping than he will come back as he used to be.
Sao Paulo have more damage than goods from him. He was late to training, he left the training when he didn’t want to train and exercise. Sao Paulo break the contract and they send back him to Inter.
He returned to Inter for the third time in 2008, so he was given new chance to become the player he was before. But his weaknesses were stronger than his will, and another bad season and his psychical absence leaded to mutual contract termination. Adriano moved to Flamengo and sign one year deal and get another football chance. He scored 19 goals on 30 games and seemed that he is back on the path of old glory. He won the title in Brasil that year with Flamengo.
Roma in 2010, gives Adriano 5 million euros for 3 year deal. After 7 months they ended contract with Adriano. It is all clear, Italy is destructive for Brazilian.
Adriano comes home with his money and in next few months enjoys in luxury life. He signed contract with Corinthians and because of injury, he made only 4 appearances. After that he went to USA and signed for Miami United, where any of his football trail is lost…