Football
8y

Adriano joins Miami United, hopes to play in Major League Soccer

Former Brazil international Adriano has signed for Miami United FC in the National Premier Soccer League as he seeks a stint in Major League Soccer.

Former Parma, Inter Milan and Roma striker Adriano, 33, has been without a club since he was released by Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense in April 2014.

He is now due to re-start his career in the United States in the country's fourth-tier NPSL, although Miami United president Roberto Sacca has told the Daily Telegraph the player hopes to use his stint there to attract MLS interest.

There have been questions over Adriano's professionalism in the past and Sacco said: "We have been in negotiations for two to three months with his agent and he needed to go far from Brazil.

"His mother and family want him far from Brazil and all the distractions there and he thought Miami United would be a good fit for him when we made the offer.

"It is far from distraction and pressure -- here there is no pressure. He has already lost a lot of weight -- around 18lb -- so he's ready to play. We're really excited to see him play.

"He is already training and we still have time as our first game is on April 24 against [Fort Lauderdale Strikers U23]. I hope he will be, by then, 100 percent.

"The NPSL is a high level. It's a plus for the league to have such a player like Adriano. But for sure he chose us as a first step to go to MLS -- it's a place he deserves to be.

"We're really happy to have him -- and we're going to take care of him very well and hopefully we will see him maybe next year in MLS.

"He was one of the best No. 9s in the world and without pressure he can do a great job for Miami United and then go to MLS.

"He wants to go there. He is still young, he is only 33, and if he plays at 25 percent of how he was, he can play in MLS with his blind eyes."

Adriano, who made 48 appearances and scored 27 goals for the Brazilian national team, won the 2004 Copa America and 2005 Confederations Cup.

During his time with Inter, he won Serie A four times as well as lifting the Coppa Italia in 2005 and 2006, and won the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A with Flamengo in 2009 and Corinthians in 2011.

^ Back to Top ^