October 29 – A Punishment Not To Be Sniffed At

WE’RE coming over all Bram Stoker on you today, as we’ve got a tale of an (alleged) bloodsucker from Transylvania. Romanian misfit Adrian Mutu was fired by Chelsea today in 2004 following his failed drugs test.

When the Tinkerman Claudio Raniari started splashing the roubles following Abromovich’s takeover he made the eccentric Romanian one of his first purchases. Mutu had an immediate impact, scoring four goals in his first three games, including a brace against Spurs which made him a big hit with the fans.

As the season went on the goals dried up and Red Roman bought in a certain Special One, who didn’t see eye-to-eye with our protagonist. A row broke out between the two when they both accused the other of lying about whether Mutu was injured for one of Romania’s World Cup qualifying games. Rumours were also beginning to fly around concerning Mutu’s private life as him and his TV presenter WAG were rumoured to be going through a rough patch.

Mutu’s mood wouldn’t have cheered up when he went to buy the Sunday papers in September 2004, and saw some textbook tabloid love-rat stories about his various off the pitch antics. If you believe what Fleet Street’s finest had to say, Mutu began his coked-up romps by sucking the blood of his lucky lady. Crikey. And all this from the man that his former coach Alberto Malesani described as “one of the most intelligent young men I have ever met and I’m not just talking about footballers. He’s the kind of guy I would want my daughter to marry.”

An inevitable drugs test soon came and when Mutu’s sample didn’t make the grade Chelsea were quick to ditch their £15.8 million striker. Mutu admitted to taking cocaine “to improve my sexual performance” and had a spell in Tony Adams’ Sporting Chance clinic. The FA handed out a £20,000 fine and a 7-month ban, which was 2 months shorter than Rio Ferdinand’s ban for going shopping while he was supposed to be peeing in a cup. More common sense from the men who thought that Steve McLaren was the man to end England’s trophy drought.

Showing some impressive bounce-back-ability Mutu soon kicked the drugs, got back with the Mrs and signed for Juventus and is now playing a big part in Fiorentina’s impressive start to Serie A this season. To see him scoring (on the pitch this time) have a gander below and point your browser this way tomorrow for an even bigger hell-raiser than Mutu.