Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu has controversially thanked disgraced former Juventus director Luciano Moggi for turning his career around after his drugs ban at Chelsea.

The former Juve forward said: "I have to thank the club and the directors - the old ones, especially Luciano Moggi - as I owe them a great deal. They picked me up in a difficult moment of my career and helped me turn it around.

"I only thought about following them to Serie B in a very superficial manner. The directors had gone, but I had the chance to remain in Serie A in a great city like Florence."

He also told La Stampa: "I have a contract that expires in 2011 and am very intrigued by what is being built here. I would love to take the club to the Scudetto and experience the World Cup with Romania. My last major tournament was the 2000 European Championships and that is not enough.

"As for my future, I can see myself as a Coach."