Serie A side AS Roma are hoping to sign former Inter Milan striker Adriano from Flamengo, coach Claudio Ranieri has confirmed.
The Brazil international signed for Inter in 2001 and proved to be something of a goal-scoring sensation in Italy before a battle with alcohol addiction curtailed his career.
Adriano returned home to Brazil on unpaid leave to rebuild his reputation with São Paulo in 2008 and in 2009 re-joined hometown club Flamengo where he recovered some of his previous form to win the league title.
"Adriano is our gamble. We don't know if it will be a winning one," Ranieri told Sky Italia.
Roma chief Daniele Prade flew to Rio to thrash out cut-price deal with Adriano, who failed to make Brazil's World Cup squad despite featuring in a number of games under Dunga.
"We are trying to follow the line drawn by [UEFA president Michel] Platini and not spend more than you earn," Ranieri explained.
