The mother of AS Roma forward Adriano has revealed that her son considered killing himself after a deep depression following the death of his father in 2009.
Adriano walked out of Italy a year and a half ago when an Inter Milan player, citing depression as his reason for wanting to return home to Brazil, but signed for Flamengo soon afterwards and resurrected his career.
And after a season at Flamengo in his home city of Rio de Janeiro, the 28-year-old has joined Roma with the aim of establishing himself again in Europe.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Adriano's mother Rosilda said: "The death of his father which he never got over was the origin of his depression.
"Because of his enormous success, many people badmouthed and criticised him without really knowing what things were happening, and this made it worse.
"No one knows the nature of the illness better than those who suffer from it, and probably I didn't even know how to help him.
"One day, when he was still in Italy, he called me and told me that he couldn't take it anymore, that he wanted to stop playing football.
"He confessed to me that he was thinking about suicide. I told him to act with the heart, because nothing is more important than your happiness. And if to obtain it you have give up football, no problem.
"Today though he is a new person with a head on his shoulders. He told me he is fine now.
"We are grateful to Inter and (president) Massimo Moratti, who always treated him as a son. Thank God Roma have also helped to give him a new chance and he will not fail."
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Adriano walked out of Italy a year and a half ago when an Inter Milan player, citing depression as his reason for wanting to return home to Brazil, but signed for Flamengo soon afterwards and resurrected his career.
And after a season at Flamengo in his home city of Rio de Janeiro, the 28-year-old has joined Roma with the aim of establishing himself again in Europe.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Adriano's mother Rosilda said: "The death of his father which he never got over was the origin of his depression.
"Because of his enormous success, many people badmouthed and criticised him without really knowing what things were happening, and this made it worse.
"No one knows the nature of the illness better than those who suffer from it, and probably I didn't even know how to help him.
"One day, when he was still in Italy, he called me and told me that he couldn't take it anymore, that he wanted to stop playing football.
"He confessed to me that he was thinking about suicide. I told him to act with the heart, because nothing is more important than your happiness. And if to obtain it you have give up football, no problem.
"Today though he is a new person with a head on his shoulders. He told me he is fine now.
"We are grateful to Inter and (president) Massimo Moratti, who always treated him as a son. Thank God Roma have also helped to give him a new chance and he will not fail."
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