Sampdoria chief Beppe Marotta admits they seriously considered signing Adriano in January. The troubled striker had his contract with Inter Milan ripped up yesterday and Marotta revealed: "We gave it some serious consideration.
"In football terms, Adriano has immense potential. It would have been a great swoop to get him.
"Let us not forget than when he was at Parma and Arrigo Sacchi snapped him up, Chelsea had offered an insane amount of money for him."