Adriano has fat chance of going to WCup: club chief

Troubled Brazil striker Adriano will not go to this year’s World Cup finals if he doesn’t lose weight, said his club president Patricia Amorin.

The 28-year-old former Inter Milan striker – who failed to impress in last week’s 2-0 friendly win over the Republic of Ireland – has struggled with his weight over the years as well as battling depression but his present club Flamengo and national coach Dunga are losing patience with him.

“Each person reaps what they sew,” said Flamengo president Patricia Amorim.

“If Adriano wants to go to the World Cup finals in South Africa (they run from June 11-July 11) he has to change.

“We have already told him this.”

Flamengo, who along with Dunga have expressed their displeasure at Adriano’s repeated failure to turn up for training, have taken measures themselves in dropping the barrel-chested forward – scorer of 27 goals in 48 international appearances – from the squad for Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores match with Venezuelan outfit Caracas FC.

Adriano, nicknamed the ‘Emperor’, weighed 106 kilogrammes (almost 17 stone) on his last medical check-up – eight kilos (16 pounds) over weight – and despite scoring six goals since the turn of the year his on-field demeanour has not endeared him to the authorities either.

Adriano – who was part of the Brazil squad that were beaten by France in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals – enjoyed a successful season last term with Flamengo following his transfer from Inter Milan in April last year, finishing top scorer with 19 goals.

Brazil are in Group G at this year’s renewal along with North Korea, Ivory Coast and old rivals Portugal, who they beat in the 2006 semi-finals.