Adri's Imperatore complex
Adriano’s career is in freefall as San Paolo give him another chance, but he turns on the media and even his agent considers quitting.
The Inter-owned striker has been struggling with injury, poor form and personal problems for two years now and was sent to San Paolo on loan for six months to get back on track.
At the start it seemed to work, but over the past few weeks he has been suspended for headbutting an opponent and walked out of training before an altercation with a photographer.
The Brazilian club had publicly threatened to terminate his contract after docking 40 per cent of his monthly wages, but decided to give him one more chance.
“He has apologised and admitted his mistakes, promising not to repeat them,” explained President Juvenal Juvenicio.
However, the situation is far from calm and Adriano reacted angrily to journalists in his homeland.
When he had originally touched down from Inter in January, he assured he did not want to be called 'Imperatore’, the nickname given to him by the Nerazzurri fans.
“I am Imperatore and you must respect me,” he told the Press this week.
“When I got here I said I didn’t want to be called that, but now I have changed my mind. I deserve this nickname and you cannot destroy everything I have achieved with my hard work in my career.”
There are even reports that Inter are sending one of their emissaries to Brazil to keep an eye on the situation.
It is increasingly important, as whispers suggest even agent Gilmar Veloz is sick of Adriano’s self-destructive ways and is considering quitting.
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