Brazilian soccer icon, Adriano, has opened up about why he ‘had’ to leave Inter Milan in an emotional interview about his time in Italy.
What Did Adriano Say About Leaving Inter Milan?
It has been 15-years since Adriano parted ways with Inter Milan and the Brazilian is arguably one of the biggest names to ever step foot on Serie A soil.
Adriano signed for Inter in 2001 for $12 million (which converts to around $22m in 2025) and scored an iconic free-kick against Real Madrid in his opening match.
Despite some impressive performances, Inter loaned Adriano out to Fiorentina in 2001 before agreeing a co-ownership deal with Parma in 2002 and the Brazilian scored 26 goals in 45 appearances for the Italian side.
Inter decided to buy Parma’s 50% ownership of Adriano in January 2024 for around $23m (which is $33.5m in 2025) and he began his peak years with the Nerazzuri.
Overall, Adriano contributed to 102 goals in 177 appearances (74G + 28A), winning four consecutive league titles between 2005 and 2009, while also winning two Coppa Italia trophies.
Adriano’s time in Milan came to an end in 2009 as both parties agreed to terminate the striker’s contract following injuries and off the field problems.
In a recent interview, Adriano opened up about the struggles he faced in the latter stages of his Inter Milan career and revealed his father’s death take a major toll which would have impacted his performances and ‘damaged’ his teammates.
He said: “After my father’s death I no longer had the head to be able to play for Inter. It’s an event that hurt me so much, I chose to return to Brazil because I no longer had my head and, thus, I would have damaged the team and my teammates.
“My father always did everything for my family and he was gone, I stayed and, as a man, I had to help my family because they needed me.
“People don’t understand what depression is, I looked the same and everyone, but that wasn’t the case. Everyone has their own way of handling this thing, I had mine. I did what I felt in my heart and head.
“I don’t care what people think, my friends and family were with me in this choice. I am very close to Javier Zanetti and Ivan Cordoba, at Inter they welcomed me like a brother, or like a son.
“Marco Materazzi did the same thing, he was always with me. They are people who gave me everything to try not to leave Inter. Even today when I hear them I am very pleased.”
Adriano’s former teammate, Cristian Chivu, has been appointed as the next Inter Milan manager and even added another former Inter player, Walter Samuel, as an assistant.
How Good Was Adriano?
When soccer fans hear the name Adriano a multitude of things come to mind, with the Brazilian being one of the biggest talents in history and a notoriously strong option on popular video game, Pro Evolution Soccer.
The goal-scoring powerhouse began his career with Flamengo, scoring nine goals in 33 appearances for the Brazilian side and winning the Rio State Championship twice and the Brazilian Champions Cup.
His performances in Brazil earned him a move to Inter Milan, who are one of the favorites to win the FIFA Club World Cup on the best betting apps, and his various spells in Italy saw the striker contribute to 102 goals in 180 appearances (77G + 25A).
Adriano was then hit with the heartbreaking bombshell of his fathers death and returned to Brazil by joining Sao Paulo on loan, where he scored 17 goals in 29 appearances.
He finally returned back to where it all began, joining Flamengo in 2009 and in his second spell with the Brazilian side Adriano scored 23 goals in 38 games (ending on 32 goals 71 appearances across both spells).
The Brazilian returned to Italy in 2010 with Roma, but failed to score a goal in his eight appearances and returned to Brazil by signing for Corinthians – with injuries playing a huge part in his career at this point.
Unfortunately, Adriano’s final stages in soccer were a shell of his former self, joining Flamengo again in August 2012 before being released in November, he then went on to sign for Atletico Paranaense in February 2014 before being released two months later and signing for Miami United in January 2016 and being released in May 2016.
Alongside his club career, Adriano was a regular member of Brazil’s national side and scored 27 goals in 48 appearances – which included two goals in the 2006 World Cup.
