Brazil striker Adriano has been quoted as saying that he would consider a move to AS Roma in the summer.
"The Emperor," as he doesn't like to be called, quickly regained his form after leaving Inter Milan for Flamengo in 2009. 19 goals in 30 matches was a handsome return, and such exploits have triggered rumors of a return to Italy.
But Adriano should think long and hard before returning to Europe. While at Inter, where his form slumped dramatically, he turned to drink as he grieved over the death of his father. In a 2009 interview he even claimed he would turn up at training drunk from the previous night's excesses, with the club forced to invent mystery injuries to keep the inquisitive Italian media at bay. Late nights on the town were a matter of course for Adriano.
He also cited depression as a reason for canceling his contract with the nerazzurri as he struggled with isolation in Milan.
But moving back to Flamengo has had a galvanizing effect. His family, all big fans of the team, have supported Adriano, and with many of his friends also in close vicinity, the benefits of a stable life have reaped dividends on the pitch.
So who is to say a move to Roma won't reawaken the old demons that drove him to such excesses in the past? Away from his support base, and the comforts of home, Adriano may be prone to those same temptations, the ones that threatened to ruin his career.
I don't know the player's current state of mind, although he seems far happier in himself, but it was only April last year that Adriano was vowing to quit the game.
Ten months is a long time in soccer, but can all Adriano's demons really have been spirited away in that space of time?
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