Mutu asks forgiveness for latest indiscretion

Troubled Romanian striker Adrian Mutu has asked for forgiveness after breaking a man’s nose just a week before making his return to action following a 10-month doping suspension.

Mutu broke a waiter’s nose on Friday night over a dispute about an unpaid bill.

The scuffle broke out after Mutu tried to leave a night-club without settling his account.

The waiter approached him to settle up and Mutu, having claimed he had an open tab, punched the waiter on the nose.

The 31-year-old is due to make his competitive comeback this weekend against Catania having served out his suspension for taking a banned stimulant.

However, Mutu’s apology on Monday was not directed at the person whose nose he broke.

“I want to offer my most sincere and profound excuses to the (Fiorentina) owners, the club, the technical staff, my team-mates and all the fans,” he said in a statement.

“I realise that what happened should never have happened. I don’t forgive myself, in particular, for having allowed myself to get stupidly involved in an argument from which I should have sought refuge, not least because I spent that evening in the company of friends who had come from Romania to celebrate their daughter, who the next day was to be baptised in an Orthodox church in Florence.

“It was my last night of freedom before my complete return to availability to the team after 10 months of hell experienced from the sidelines, and also for this reason I am bitterly sorry for what happened.”

Fiorentina are badly in need of Mutu as they are currently also without young Montenegro starlet Stevan Jovetic and until Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Bari were sitting rock bottom of Serie A.

Mutu is coming back from his second doping suspension having also been banned in 2004 for seven months having tested positive for cocaine.

In a chequered career he has played for Juventus, Inter Milan and Chelsea and was Romania captain until his ban.