networker1884 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 What was expected of him: After making his first appearance for Brazil at just 18 years of age, the enormous striker only had to wait another eight months before he got a big money transfer to Italian giants Internazionale. Upon leaving Flamengo he was quickly compared to the then-injured Ronaldo, who was still on Inter's books. It seemed that nothing could stop Adriano from becoming perhaps the greatest striker of his generation. His lightning quick pace and six foot three, hulking frame meant there were very few arguments. An exceptional header of the ball, and with a rocket of a left foot, Adriano was seemingly the complete package. What the world got: His first six months with Inter bore little fruit, with just 1 goal in 14 games. Come January 2002, he found himself on loan to troubled A.C. Fiorentina, who would finish the season both relegated and bankrupt. However, with 6 goals in 15 games, Adriano did as much as anybody that year to try and save the team. At the tender age of 20, the Brazilian had begun to showcase his ability to the wider world. When the season ended, Parma paid Inter almost £7,000,000 to co-own Adriano. This would spark the beginning of his Golden Era, as he quickly formed a world-class partnership with Romanian team-mate Adrian Mutu. His first season with Parma saw him score 17 goals in 31 appearances, with his strike partner grabbing 22 in 36, helping the club to 5th place in Serie A, and just four points away from Champions League qualification. Chelsea's billions saw Adrian Mutu leave the team in the summer of 2003, and there were fears Adriano would be unable to replicate the form he'd shown during his first season at Parma without his partner. These fears were wide of the mark, as Italian forward Alberto Gilardino quickly stepped up to the mark. The Biellesi striker would finish the 2003/04 season with 26 goals to his name, but Adriano found himself back at Inter in January 2004 after 9 goals in 13 games. The Nerazzurri had decided Adriano's development was sufficient, and they bought out Parma's ownership stake for £16,000,000. He was quickly put into the starting line-up, and handed the #10 shirt. Adriano flourished playing alongside the likes of Christian Vieri, Alvaro Recoba, and Julio Cruz, helping himself to 12 goals in 18 games during the final five months of the season, taking him to a total of 21 in 31 for both Parma and Inter during the 2003/04 season. It was around this time that Adriano really proved himself as an International quality footballer. 25 goals for Brazil in 35 games between 2003 and 2006 saw his stock rise considerably, and his performances during the 2004/05 season at club level were by far the best of his career. 28 goals in 42 games for Inter saw Chelsea apparently ready to offer £70,000,000 for his services, before Mourinho opted to bring Hernan Crespo back from Italy to compete with Didier Drogba, then later signing Andriy Shevchenko. Adriano was rewarded for his performances with a new contract in September 2005, and it was at this point that things began to go wrong for him. After the death of his father in August 2004, Adriano spent the majority of his time drinking and partying, something which he would later be criticized for after a poor showing at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, along with Ronaldinho. With his body starting to decline, and his powers waning, the 2005/06 season was the beginning of the end for Adriano. 18 goals in 47 games for Inter wasn't good enough by his own standards, and he would only score a further 12 goals for Inter over the next three seasons, albeit with six months of that spent on loan to Sao Paulo. Adriano was released by Internazionale in April 2009, and spent the next four years drifting between various Brazilian clubs, and taking in a forgotten spell at A.S. Roma. Now, at just 31 years of age, Adriano has been without a club since being let go by boyhood team Flamengo in November 2012. A man who was supposed to lead his country to World Cup titles, and his club to UEFA Champions League trophies now serves as a cautionary tale to young footballers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bris Vegas Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Neil Mellor and Francis Jeffers were supposed to be England's future striking partnership.. Some guys just never make it.. Giovanni Dos Santos has such amazing ball ability, he's so like Ronaldinho in that department.. But he's never done it at club level, ever since being the next star at Barcelona and a carbon copy of Ronnie he's gradually moved about without ever settling down anywhere.. He never got a look in at Spurs, went on loan to Ipswich and Galatasary before joining Racing Santander on loan who got relegated, and then onto Mallorca who have also been relegated.. He's only 24, but he's probably the least ever played 24 year old on the planet.. Since starting in 2006 at 17, he's yet to play 30 games a season and has already suffered 2 La Liga relegations.. The guy needs a huge slice of luck to get his career back on track or he'll always been known as the 'kid with potential' But one name always springs to mind for me.. Brazilian Denilson.. The worlds most expensive player at $21mill did absolutely nothing in his career.. He was only a sub as Brazil won the WC and suffered relegation with Betis before going onto the Bordeaux and then an Arabic side.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Adriano looked a complete player. Strong, powerful, fast(ish) and had a wicked shot. I think you can prepare Alexandre Pato for this thread too. It's just not going to happen. Only a year ago he turned down PSG. Only for more injuries to come along and Milan finally decide enough is enough. They got £15m for him though. He's now, as far as I can tell, pretty unpopular with the fans of Corinthians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Man I remember the hype around Denilson!! Currently Neymar seems to have the world watching closely. He's young and while clearly skilful he needs to be coached well. He doesn't look very disciplined. Tbf I've only seen him 5/6 times. But they are eager to find the next big thing and stick huge price tags on them. Neymar hopefully will kick on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop_Ram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Didn't realise there was another redditor here. Fresh from r/soccer, that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Didn't realise there was another redditor here. Fresh from r/soccer, that one Eddie_The_Brewer waves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smyth_18 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Michael Owen unfortunately. Completely down to injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaragozaram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Zaragoza have had their fair share of ¨the next big things¨. In my time as a Maño I would say, Alessandro D´Alessandro, Matuzelem and (this will be controversial) David Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuff264 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Robinho? Was brought to City to symbolise there intentions are achieved nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester Ram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Zaragoza have had their fair share of ¨the next big things¨. In my time as a Maño I would say, Alessandro D´Alessandro, Matuzelem and (this will be controversial) David Villa. Controversial indeed. Was part of (possibly) the greatest team of all time and has always looked the part for Spain and Barca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuff264 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Zaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smyth_18 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 A couple of soccer superstars for you: Freddie Adu Robbie Findley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester Ram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Zaha. I'm looking forward to that one ^_^ I heard a United fan call him 'Fergies final gift' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Candido Costa - The next Figo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester Ram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 A couple of soccer superstars for you: Freddie Adu Robbie Findley We're talking about failures? The man's a Derby hero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smyth_18 Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Aleksander Prijovic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abertawe_ram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I can't remember if it was Francois Grenet or Lillian Martin, but one of them was supposedly the heir to Thuram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RamNut Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Giles barnes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaragozaram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 Controversial indeed. Was part of (possibly) the greatest team of all time and has always looked the part for Spain and Barca. I agree, but how much has his broken leg cost him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester Ram Posted June 11, 2013 Share Posted June 11, 2013 I agree, but how much has his broken leg cost him? Yes, he's lost it now, but he had his time and you can't call a man who was joint top scorer at a World Cup, a world cup winner, a European Championship winner, a CL winner and a member of one of the greatest teams of all time a flop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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