Long Live Emperor Adriano

Pressured and unsatisfied, the Emperor Adriano stated this Thursday that he has no intentions of returning to Inter Milan.

"I have lost the joy in playing football, I'm taking a break," said Adriano to reporters.

He went on to say, "I was not happy at Inter, correction, I was not happy in Milan."

Adriano highlighted the fact that he needs to be with his family in the marvellous city—Rio the Janeiro—even if this hinders his career in some way.

"I've been pressured since I was 18. I need a break”, continued the Emperor. "I've decided to opt for my happiness and to be near my family."

In response to drug use allegations the Brazilian forward had this to say:

"If this were true I could not play football, anti-doping tests are frequent for professional players in all competitions."

Allegations of him visiting a Rio slum recently were met with, “I was brought up in a Rio slum and I'm proud of this."

Gilmar Rinaldi, Adriano's manager, was quoted as saying the player had ”personal problems" and he had visited the German complex slum in Rio. 

Adriano has guaranteed he does not use drugs.

The former Copa America champ and current Confederations Champ did play in the Paulista League and Libertadores last year and has not ruled out playing for a Brazilian club once more.

Adriano announced, "It would have to be Flamengo or else my grandmother will kill me."

Flamengo was indeed the club who brought Adriano to the professional level.

When he spoke of Flamengo, a smile finally broke out on the player's face.

A smile visibly absent throughout the interview.

So hats off to Adriano.

He is not the first as many Brazilian players have opted for happiness over the mighty buck. He is however the most high profile in recent times and by far the most outspoken.

Blatter once spoke of the modern  football "slave trade", and even though these are very well paid "slaves" some elements of truth do linger within Blatter's comment.

For a little over a decade there has been a flood of Brazilian players into Europe. The figure stands at just over 1000 a year.

Players are put to "work" in Europe and as Adriano rightly stated "The joy is lost".

In the midst of this billion dollar trade we must all stop sometime to remember—it's still just a game.

The transfer fees have gone silly, the clubs are in debt, shady mafia oil "businessmen”, Asian dictators and all sorts of "funny money" is floating around and perhaps it is time to stop and think.

Worth mentioning that it is not all doom and gloom as a precious few on both sides of the Atlantic do benefit.

The players do earn extremely big compensation packages as well.

Most can't seem to get away from the easy cash and the likes of Maldini and Beckham seem to wish to milk this cow well into their 50's if given the chance.

Adriano by this action shows that he is satisfied with all the easy millions he's made, tired of the McFootball job, wants to play for a club he truly loves, can't stay away from his loving family and wants to live at home in the marvelous Rio de Janeiro.

What's there not to like about this guy.

However dear reader you can all rest assured that in the coming weeks and months the men with the tall hats will lash out.

Adriano's statements put the "trade" in jeopardy.

We can expect him to be slandered, branded a drug and alcohol junkie, mentally disturbed and a host of other labels.

The phones are ringing as I write this to ensure he's dropped from the national team and blocked from Brazilian clubs.

It will be left to see if Dunga and the Flamengo directors have the balls that the Emperor has shown as he rightly lived up to his name.