Adriano Biography

Adriano began his career in the youth squad of Flamengo, and played in the pro squad between 1999 to 2001.

Adriano entered the national youth teams as a teenager. He won the 1999 edition of the FIFA U-17 World Championship, and helped the Brazil team to the Quarter Finals of the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship; he was the top scorer for Brazil with 6 goals and won the silver boot award for the competition, with 5 goals, just behind the golden boot winner, Argentinian striker Javier Saviola.
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Adriano came to international fame in his first appearance for Inter Milan, when he scored against Real Madrid in the 2001 Santiago Bernabeu Trophy with a powerful free kick. With Inter already boasting first-class strikers, they loaned him out to Fiorentina during 2002. In the summer of 2002, a 2 year co-ownership deal with Parma of the player was agreed. In Parma, he formed one of the most impressive striking duos of Serie's A last decade with Adrian Mutu. They scored more than 15 goals with assists from each other. Adriano's kicks are strong and accurate, though sometimes lacking technical execution.

He returned to the Nerazzurri in 2004 and signed 4 and a half year contract and has since been an asset to the team. He has scored a total of 15 goals in his 16 appearances during the 2004-05 season. While playing for the Brazilian national team, he won the 2004 Copa América in Peru. Adriano was the leading goal scorer of the tournament and was selected as the best player.

Adriano is often considered as the long-term successor to Ronaldo in the Brazillian national team. When he scores a goal, he looks to the sky in memory of his recently deceased father. In Italy, he is known by the nickname of "L'Imperatore" ('The Emperor'), referring to the Roman emperor Hadrian (Adriano in Italian).

He had been linked with moves to Chelsea and Real Madrid, but this rumor was put to rest after Adriano signed a four-year contract extension in 2005 that will keep him with Inter until 2010. "It's flattering that so many prestigious clubs want him," Giacinto Facchetti, Inter Milan's club president, told journalists, "but we're keeping tight hold of him." However, after a somewhat dissapointing 2005/2006 season with only 13 league goals and some poor performances, he has again been linked with a move away to Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter's city rivals, AC Milan as they look for a replacment for Andriy Schevchenko. During the 2005 Confederations Cup, Adriano was named Player of the Tournament and was the competition's leading scorer with five goals. In the final, he steered Brazil to an unforgettable victory. Two outstanding goals helped Brazil to beat Argentina 4-1, the first one coming from a blistering left-footed shot in the 11th minute. The second came as a result of a Cicinho cross, with Adriano heading it in. This goal was also impressive because Brazil's players passed the ball among themselves for more than one minute, with most of the players 'participating' in the goal.

From 11 July 2004 through 25 June 2005, Adriano has scored an impressive total of 40 goals. They have come from an assortment of matches (28) including appearances in: Serie A, Coppa Italia & Champions League games for Inter in 2004/05; Copa America, South American World Cup qualifying, and Confederations Cup games for Brazil.

Adriano was called up to the Brazilian National side ahead of the World Cup in Germany. He is expected to line-up alongside Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka in an impressive attacking foursome. Brazil are favourites to lift the cup.

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ADRIANO BIOGRAPHY