Flamengo manager Dorival Junior insists that the club will not rush striker Adriano back into first-team action, despite the club’s poor league position.
Adriano, 30, signed a short-term deal with Flamengo earlier this summer after leaving Corinthians under a cloud and underwent knee surgery in May in order to rescue his flagging career.
With Flamengo languishing narrowly above the relegation zone, the club’s supporters have been vocal in their desire to see the Emperor return to first-team action.
“First, he needs to prepare. That’s what we have told him since the start,” Dorival told Globo Esporte. “Adriano has not only been out of action since the surgery, it has been almost two years since he played a full gem. This is a big issue.
We cannot put that pressure on a professional who would be fundamental to us if he was in good shape and ready to play 10, 15 or 90 minutes. But, I will never expose a player in any circumstance, whatever the team’s situation. That is on a professional and also a human level. I will not do this with Adriano.”
