The death of his father sent the former player into a depression which led him to alcohol. In recent days, a profile of the left-hander in poor condition has gone viral.
Adriano could have been one of the greatest figures in Brazilian football, inheriting the number 9 jersey that once accompanied Ronaldo Nazario. However, the figure of the left-handed striker suddenly faded in the sport after learning of a situation that ended up marking him until now.
The striker arrived in Europe in 2001 to defend the Inter Milan jersey. It was there that Javier Zanetti noticed the qualities he had to become a world star.
“As soon as he arrived at Inter Milan, he scored an incredible goal in a friendly match against Real Madrid. That’s when I realized I could be the new Ronaldo. Adriano had everything: physique, talent and speed,” the coach emphasized in a dialogue with La Gazetta dello Sport.
The support and care he received from his father kept him away from vices and kept him in check when fame began to surround the player who, at the age of 23, scored 28 goals in 42 games for the Nerazzurri. Of course, two years later, the news ended up affecting him too much.
The call that changed everything
In 2007, Adriano’s father, Leite Ribeiro, died, leaving him without the support he then needed. “Adriano had a father who looked after him a lot and monitored him. However, at the start of the season (2007), something unimaginable happened. He got a call from Brazil and they told him his father had passed away, it’s something that can change you forever,” Zanetti revealed.
“I saw him crying, he threw the phone and started shouting that it wasn’t possible. After that day, Moratti and I decided to welcome him like a brother and protect him. During this time, he continued to play, score and dedicate them to his father, looking at the sky and praying. But after that call, he was never the same,” he said.
“In the evening, Iván Ramiro Córdoba and I would get together and encourage him, telling him that he was a mix between Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic and that he could be better than both. Despite everything, we didn’t succeed, we didn’t get him out of the depression and it still affects me…” he said.
Over the years, Hadrian himself spoke about this subject. In 2021, he admitted that after his father’s death, he changed the way he was. “When I played football, I played for my family. “So when my dad died, football was never the same,” he told The Players Tribune.
“In the space of nine days, I went from heaven to hell. From winning the Copa América against the Argentinians as a gift from God to learning of my father’s death a few days later. This news made me lose my love for football. Also in 2011, I tore my Achilles tendon. I still limp from this injury. So when we ask what happened to Adriano, the answer is simple: he had a hole in his heel and another in his soul,” he added.
“They said I was missing. “Adriano fled the millions”, “Adriano takes drugs”, “Adriano disappeared in the favela”. Do you know how many times I’ve read these titles? Here I am, smiling in front of you. I returned to my people, my friends, my community. I didn’t want to be in the castle on top of the mountain, far from everyone. One day I spoke with Moratti (former president of Inter). He asked me how I was and I was honest: ‘I can’t continue in Italy. “I want to stay in Brazil.” And he understood it perfectly. “He will always have my respect,” he noted.
Victim of depression, he left Italy in 2008 to return to Brazilian football, defending Sao Paulo. He then returned to Inter Milan and defended Flamengo, Roma, Corinthians and Athletico Paranaense before joining his last club, Miami United, the team where he finished his football career in 2016.
The damage caused extends to the present. a few days ago a video went viral in which he is seen drinking alcohol in a favela in Brazil while sharing with some people.
Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
